tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31598730868660224172024-02-20T00:00:30.600+08:00Lorem IpsumStevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01563142738245530462noreply@blogger.comBlogger257125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3159873086866022417.post-71390135863632640952023-08-11T10:12:00.002+08:002023-08-11T10:12:46.929+08:00Blast from the Past<font face="Arial Unicode MS" size="3">
Four years later. I forgot about this blog and actually couldn't remember how to add an entry. But here I am, and yet again I have nothing to say. Just popping in.
</font>Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01563142738245530462noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3159873086866022417.post-73133793161115537172019-10-27T20:55:00.001+08:002019-10-27T20:55:21.950+08:00Wow, I haven't posted to this blog in three and a half years. Will I ever come back and update my life in Taiwan, and in general? Not that anyone cares, but it might be nice for posterity, something for my kids or grandkids to read someday.<br /><br />Eh, we'll see.<span style="font-family: Arial Unicode MS; font-size: small;">
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Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01563142738245530462noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3159873086866022417.post-6417863574855758392016-03-22T07:49:00.001+08:002016-03-22T07:58:14.636+08:00Morocco 2016 - Day 1<p><i><font size="2"><strong>Click on photos to enlarge</strong></font></i> <p><font size="3">On Thursday, February 4, I began my Chinese New Year's vacation trip. My destination was Morocco, with a two-day stop in Liechtenstein on the way back. </font></p> <p><font size="3">For several months since I had booked the tickets, I was excitedly anticipating my first time in Africa!</font></p> <table cellspacing="2" cellpadding="2" width="448" border="0"> <tbody> <tr> <td valign="top" width="146"> <p align="center"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-NGBnyl1_wbQ/VvCH7wL_VCI/AAAAAAAAGi4/HcFFw2i1mVs/s1600-h/20160204_170420_Jingguo%252520Rd%25255B7%25255D.jpg" target="_blank"><img title="20160204_170420_Jingguo Rd" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="With my backpack" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-OX8xTH_NF4k/VvCH8vuRIOI/AAAAAAAAGi8/0SnvCkTamEI/20160204_170420_Jingguo%252520Rd_thumb%25255B7%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="139" height="244"></a></p></td> <td valign="top" width="146"> <p align="center"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-0ihwlwhV4m0/VvCH9YttFiI/AAAAAAAAGjA/-EuXuRzgXf0/s1600-h/20160204_201035_Hangzhan%252520South%252520Rd%25255B5%25255D.jpg" target="_blank"><img title="20160204_201035_Hangzhan South Rd" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="On airplane to Hong Kong" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-JHE2FacZIIA/VvCH-SiKzEI/AAAAAAAAGjE/UqFQk2MEB_8/20160204_201035_Hangzhan%252520South%252520Rd_thumb%25255B5%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="139" height="244"></a></p></td> <td valign="top" width="146"> <p align="center"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-_a55EqAhFfY/VvCH_C9SLzI/AAAAAAAAGjI/deptgChbKxA/s1600-h/20160205_140840_Flughafenstrasse%25255B6%25255D.jpg" target="_blank"><img title="20160205_140840_Flughafenstrasse" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="Swiss passport stamp" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-y2ogejT6qP8/VvCIAG5RqtI/AAAAAAAAGjM/l2PjEPaLZcE/20160205_140840_Flughafenstrasse_thumb%25255B6%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="139" height="244"></a></p></td></tr> <tr> <td valign="top" width="146" align="center"> <p align="center"><em><font size="2"><strong>Ready to go!</strong></font></em></p></td> <td valign="top" width="146" align="center"> <p align="center"><em><font size="2"><strong>1st flight: <br>Hong Kong</strong></font></em></p></td> <td valign="top" width="146" align="center"> <p align="center"><em><font size="2"><strong>2nd flight:<br>Zurich</strong></font></em></p></td></tr></tbody></table> <p><font size="3">I arrived in Zurich, Switzerland early Friday morning, where I had about six hours until my next flight to Marrakesh. </font></p> <p align="center"><em><font size="3">--Warning: Geocaching nerdiness to follow!--</font></em></p> <p><font size="3">I spent the time looking for a geocache near the airport. At first I spent about an hour looking in the wrong place—outside in the cold winter drizzle along some train tracks. I finally realized that I <em>should</em> have been looking in a nearby parking structure. Although I had to climb ten flights of stairs, it was worth it to get out of the rain and find a cache full of trackables!</font></p> <table cellspacing="2" cellpadding="2" width="448" border="0"> <tbody> <tr> <td valign="top" width="146" align="center"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-1RMc7PsmJRA/VvCIAqc6frI/AAAAAAAAGjQ/9xBMCFve2Hs/s1600-h/backpack%252520with%252520geocaching%252520supplies%25255B1%25255D.jpg" target="_blank"><img title="backpack with geocaching supplies" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="backpack with geocaching supplies" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-xQJy9V1kBCA/VvCIBFq9_nI/AAAAAAAAGjU/I7kVahAAq6U/backpack%252520with%252520geocaching%252520supplies_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="139" height="244"></a></td> <td valign="top" width="146" align="center"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-vmdldZCiMcc/VvCIEh53W_I/AAAAAAAAGjY/QBp3w_XMbeg/s1600-h/zurich%252520airport%252520cache.jpg" target="_blank"><img title="zurich airport cache" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="zurich airport cache" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Zd1B-L2aI1Y/VvCIFYTKAmI/AAAAAAAAGjc/LHPyjNXo6Tk/zurich%252520airport%252520cache_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="139" height="244"></a></td> <td valign="top" width="146" align="center"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-RwYZ1FeZ6_0/VvCIF0vj3GI/AAAAAAAAGjg/LDqeH-4EKH0/s1600-h/20160205_092304_Check-in.jpg" target="_blank"><img title="20160205_092304_Check-in" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="Snack at Zurich airport" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-1YoRoj1RkNU/VvCIGpYd5uI/AAAAAAAAGjk/qXUEj_slggU/20160205_092304_Check-in_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="139" height="244"></a></td></tr> <tr> <td valign="top" width="146"> <p align="center"><em><font size="2"><strong>How a geocacher packs for a trip</strong></font></em></p></td> <td valign="top" width="146"> <p align="center"><em><font size="2"><strong>Arrgh, there be plenty o’ booty insde!</strong></font></em></p></td> <td valign="top" width="146"> <p align="center"><em><font size="2"><strong>Äpfel Blechkuchen and latte @ Zurich Airport</strong></font></em></p></td></tr></tbody></table> <p><font size="3">The next leg of my journey took me from Zurich To Marrakesh. Although I ended up with an entire row of seats to myself, I was too excited to lie down and sleep. Morocco awaited!</font><br></p> <p> <table cellspacing="2" cellpadding="2" width="400" border="0"> <tbody> <tr> <td valign="top" width="394" align="center"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-rVWFQVN9J7A/VvCIHapqVhI/AAAAAAAAGjo/DjMN9HFc_Ng/s1600-h/north%252520african%252520desert%252520from%252520airplane.jpg" target="_blank"><img title="north african desert from airplane" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="north african desert from airplane" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-npOfM6iFlPs/VvCIH5Ec_vI/AAAAAAAAGjs/iyJ3KLh1oYY/north%252520african%252520desert%252520from%252520airplane_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="404" height="229"></a></td></tr> <tr> <td valign="top" width="394"> <p align="center"><em><font size="2"><strong>North African desert from the airplane</strong></font></em></p></td></tr> <tr> <td valign="top" width="394"> <p align="center"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-jGaFnDTUhLs/VvCIIgXrXFI/AAAAAAAAGjw/6iyG9lI-Kn0/s1600-h/marrakesh%252520from%252520the%252520airplane.jpg" target="_blank"><img title="marrakesh from the airplane" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="marrakesh from the airplane" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTIiLmTTi4d7dkAAydJSF_Z8SQOix_kiGJaT4W5RmYZQl_9srOTH4TWvH1Q8JxGrCJ8rF9i42ybn0CXyrcp-fj3G931LCnbo1utLe_BeH0DvFzxBoES_NDZ_uelcmBQzIz10sEYwVNqCVu/?imgmax=800" width="404" height="229"></a></p></td></tr> <tr> <td valign="top" width="394"> <p align="center"><em><font size="2"><strong>Marrakesh!</strong></font></em></p></td></tr></tbody></table></p> <p><font size="3"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-66VW0sCoQHA/VvCIJ9_n1NI/AAAAAAAAGj4/7DS6zBl_Slo/s1600-h/currencies.jpg" target="_blank"><img title="currencies" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; float: right; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="currencies" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-aZR-QoTrMFI/VvCIKZYaXBI/AAAAAAAAGj8/o-16diqtlyc/currencies_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="223" align="right" height="244"></a>I was so tired from all the plane rides that by the time I arrived in Marrakech I was dead tired. But finally being here gave me a second wind. The first order of business was exchanging money. By this time I ended up with <em>five</em> different currencies in my wallet: Taiwanese and Hong Kong dollars, Euros, Swiss francs, and now Moroccan dirhams. </font></p> <p><font size="3">I needed to get a SIM card. For geocaching. Priorities, you know. I was directed to a shop in the airport where two young Moroccan guys were helping a middle-aged woman. They were speaking French so I could kind of understand the gist of their conversation. </font></p> <p><font size="3">I watched the scene, fascinated. The young guys shamelessly flirted with the woman, who could have been their mother’s age. The woman seemed to enjoy their flirtatious comments and gestures, and played along with the game. I couldn’t imagine this taking place in the U.S. in this kind of professional business setting, especially with the level of innuendo that the salesguys were using. Yet, they completed the transaction without incident; the woman didn’t seem uncomfortable in the least. It was a very interesting salesperson-customer exchange and I was curious if this would be typical here. </font></p> <p align="left"><font size="3">The driver from my riad (a Moroccan B&B) met me at the airport. He was a sweet older guy who explained the sights along the drive. We drove through the “Pink Palace” and I learned a little about King Mohammed IV. </font></p> <div align="left"> <table cellspacing="2" cellpadding="2" width="400" align="center" border="0"> <tbody> <tr> <td valign="top" width="196" align="center"> <p align="center"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Z9axLIbPbzg/VvCILJbP2HI/AAAAAAAAGkA/meysltSRQyQ/s1600-h/marrakesh%252520first%252520impression%25252001.jpg" target="_blank"><img title="marrakesh first impression 01" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="marrakesh first impression 01" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-dsVK_eBHmh8/VvCILkN6ggI/AAAAAAAAGkE/KAZiiUptF10/marrakesh%252520first%252520impression%25252001_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="215"></a></p></td> <td valign="top" width="196" align="center"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-0KuCtGMrXGs/VvCIMBKNvLI/AAAAAAAAGkI/wvTanRww0i4/s1600-h/marrakesh%252520first%252520impression%25252004.jpg" target="_blank"><img title="marrakesh first impression 04" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="marrakesh first impression 04" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-rNQHvN1Y35E/VvCIMnT-dDI/AAAAAAAAGkM/69e52zh88Ng/marrakesh%252520first%252520impression%25252004_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="224"></a></td></tr> <tr> <td valign="bottom" width="196" align="center"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-kvQridBkps8/VvCINfd_E3I/AAAAAAAAGkQ/oI7H9DiAdD8/s1600-h/marrakesh%252520first%252520impression%25252002.jpg" target="_blank"><img title="marrakesh first impression 02" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="marrakesh first impression 02" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-lgyJodcTDdk/VvCIN-IxOyI/AAAAAAAAGkU/1JW8EyHN_aI/marrakesh%252520first%252520impression%25252002_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="206"></a></td> <td valign="bottom" width="198"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-7c63wWFFt8U/VvCIOhmgXfI/AAAAAAAAGkY/1h7teVbIvro/s1600-h/marrakesh%252520first%252520impression%25252003.jpg" target="_blank"><img title="marrakesh first impression 03" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="marrakesh first impression 03" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-WzWW3jI6AaA/VvCIPMsL6OI/AAAAAAAAGkc/1-4lN5uZTYw/marrakesh%252520first%252520impression%25252003_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="195"></a></td></tr></tbody></table></div><font size="2"> <p align="center"> <table cellspacing="2" cellpadding="2" width="400" border="0"> <tbody> <tr> <td valign="top" width="394" align="center"> <p align="center"><strong><em>First impressions of Marrakesh</em></strong></p></td></tr></tbody></table></p> <p align="left"><font size="3">As we entered the medina (walled city) I remembered the warnings I had read online about the labyrinth of streets. I thought, “These streets won’t be so hard to navigate.” </font></p> <p align="left"><font size="3">Then reality hit as we parked and I followed my driver through twisty lanes to the riad. </font><font size="3">I would never have been able to find this place on my own, and this wasn’t even in the heart of the medina.</font></p></font> <div align="center"> <table cellspacing="2" cellpadding="2" width="400" align="center" border="0"> <tbody> <tr> <td valign="top" width="133"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ydDNm3WFjHU/VvCIPyL1dUI/AAAAAAAAGkg/pNg-qUNlg6w/s1600-h/20160205_173525_Rue%252520Bab%252520El%252520Arhdar.jpg" target="_blank"><img title="20160205_173525_Rue Bab El Arhdar" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="Road to riad" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvjTRw_Ep-i83m_0KXGzauYDywOu6jt32so9NrXXEAKlb59B8O7iTb21PRgSLIOsOc0c99hxt_Pnd5GUXDCuOVvdsTtSjd5H7XL0rUZWsSbhhK8KIheD4HYdbp9AEsU5bWLcGzaLKBLDRg/?imgmax=800" width="139" height="244"></a></td> <td valign="top" width="133"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-5vqtuBG5goQ/VvCIRA2UUZI/AAAAAAAAGko/QHLVu3Kibvw/s1600-h/to%252520riad%252520la%252520porte%252520rouge%25252001.jpg" target="_blank"><img title="to riad la porte rouge 01" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="Another alley" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-lvyV83dtMLo/VvCIRluRXdI/AAAAAAAAGks/r14Ev08mvXQ/to%252520riad%252520la%252520porte%252520rouge%25252001_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="139" height="244"></a></td> <td valign="top" width="133"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgApYrRQmcG_xZdlJAuJSqlTFDy402v4q9L_5OPy9AciXPmMQfsjSRt19DmQ6WVWdSwS6-tbZGTjvnWbLbvmEEUYGp-7Z0EqyEDDYw1soanlEDUryki3_DX_Tf1pHZIf3RTUOef2k48AFVn/s1600-h/20160205_173808.jpg" target="_blank"><img title="20160205_173808" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="Riad La Porte Rouge front door" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-kgp6mi4ijbs/VvCIS5txNZI/AAAAAAAAGk0/M26ImIE2tf8/20160205_173808_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="139" height="244"></a></td></tr> <tr> <td valign="top" width="133"><strong><em><font size="2">The first unmarked road to get to the riad…</font></em></strong></td> <td valign="top" width="133"><strong><em><font size="2">…Down yet another unmarked alley…</font></em></strong></td> <td valign="top" width="133"><font size="2"><strong><em>…Front door of the riad, found only thanks to my driver!</em></strong></font></td></tr></tbody></table></div> <p><font size="3">The old plaster walls and tight spaces in the lanes of the medina do not give any indication as to the space and beauty found within the riads! I was pleasantly surprised by the North African ambiance—and especially the hospitality of the hosts Ahmed and Mustafa—as I entered <a href="https://goo.gl/YbI9YD" target="_blank">Riad la Porte Rouge.</a> </font></p> <p><font size="3">I was greeted with Moroccan sweet mint tea, cookies, and a warm introduction to the riad and the activities that awaited me in Marrakesh. Truly first-class customer service here!</font></p> <p><font size="3"></font></p> <div align="center"> <table cellspacing="2" cellpadding="2" width="510" align="center" border="0"> <tbody> <tr> <td valign="top" width="251" align="center"> <p align="center"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-vuQlpaokagg/VvCITv5WsCI/AAAAAAAAGk4/PfocLnf7uAE/s1600-h/Morocco%252520and%252520Liechtenstein%252520on%252520digital%252520camera%252520018%25255B4%25255D.jpg" target="_blank"><img title="Morocco and Liechtenstein on digital camera 018" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="Riad entry" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLZq-jdhmDnBhnbsLrDQ8q1LBRhWsvU_syZ59HCeaWTOFUGfqqrkCcEMSIwmMhr5rYli2eneOmUtT9LcKAYLPirrxwD5N7BmZL7BJDCRQjdpSyjpMRNMNN63y2wgh9xrNdofcQ8qGY26gZ/?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184"></a></p></td> <td valign="bottom" width="251" align="center"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-0_MQsqo3WL0/VvCIU6HGXpI/AAAAAAAAGlA/Z7P8evlPvPE/s1600-h/Morocco%252520and%252520Liechtenstein%252520on%252520digital%252520camera%252520011%25255B4%25255D.jpg" target="_blank"><img title="Morocco and Liechtenstein on digital camera 011" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="Riad inner courtyard" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-KNkqGkdoczM/VvCIVjwWkDI/AAAAAAAAGlE/wf-z4P_GF_o/Morocco%252520and%252520Liechtenstein%252520on%252520digital%252520camera%252520011_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184"></a></td></tr> <tr> <td valign="top" width="251" align="center"><strong><em><font size="2">Entryway</font></em></strong></td> <td valign="top" width="251" align="center"><strong><em><font size="2">Inner courtyard</font></em></strong></td></tr> <tr> <td valign="top" width="251" align="center"> <p align="center"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Bq6ejZJoU-M/VvCIWOaessI/AAAAAAAAGlI/933WuOgRRBI/s1600-h/Morocco%252520and%252520Liechtenstein%252520on%252520digital%252520camera%252520004%25255B8%25255D.jpg" target="_blank"><img title="Morocco and Liechtenstein on digital camera 004" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="My room at the riad" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-QbbBIppzxxs/VvCIWkPA1mI/AAAAAAAAGlM/ooWdwGKaf9U/Morocco%252520and%252520Liechtenstein%252520on%252520digital%252520camera%252520004_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244"></a></p></td> <td valign="bottom" width="251" align="center"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ZpcoJNbkQCk/VvCIXZCO_4I/AAAAAAAAGlQ/oGbLzmoZxmY/s1600-h/20160205_174002_Rue%252520Bab%252520El%252520Arhdar%25255B3%25255D.jpg" target="_blank"><img title="20160205_174002_Rue Bab El Arhdar" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="Courtyard pool" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-CFsLSCB2Ut0/VvCIX-l_R_I/AAAAAAAAGlU/Thl10dSxi7o/20160205_174002_Rue%252520Bab%252520El%252520Arhdar_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="139" height="244"></a></td></tr> <tr> <td valign="top" width="251" align="center"><strong><em><font size="2">My room “The Narjisse”</font></em></strong></td> <td valign="top" width="251" align="center"><strong><em><font size="2">Courtyard decor</font></em></strong></td></tr> <tr> <td valign="bottom" width="251" align="center"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-SlIj3H2rDRo/VvCIYo-S7cI/AAAAAAAAGlY/QhrTw7u9L0Y/s1600-h/Morocco%252520and%252520Liechtenstein%252520on%252520digital%252520camera%252520032%25255B4%25255D.jpg" target="_blank"><img title="Morocco and Liechtenstein on digital camera 032" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="Riad lounge" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Bn1LFjj0Ekc/VvCIZfOmHlI/AAAAAAAAGlc/HlhxTK6R6EI/Morocco%252520and%252520Liechtenstein%252520on%252520digital%252520camera%252520032_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184"></a></td> <td valign="top" width="251" align="center"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-yessL3ow_44/VvCIZ66oLaI/AAAAAAAAGlg/rpmR7pctO2I/s1600-h/riad%252520painting%252520of%252520woman%25255B3%25255D.jpg" target="_blank"><img title="" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="Moroccan beauty" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-TucLrSVtJ4w/VvCIarRkNoI/AAAAAAAAGlk/jCQFeA0SWQw/riad%252520painting%252520of%252520woman_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="223"></a></td></tr> <tr> <td valign="top" width="251" align="center"><strong><em><font size="2">Lounge</font></em></strong></td> <td valign="top" width="251" align="center"><font size="2"><strong><em>Moroccan beauty</em></strong></font></td></tr></tbody></table></div> <p><font size="3">Ahmed helped me arrange a daytrip to the Ouzoud Waterfalls for the next day, as well as a relaxing hamam scrub and massage afterwards. I ate a traditional Moroccan dinner at the riad, deliciously prepared by Mustafa.</font></p> <div align="center"> <table cellspacing="2" cellpadding="2" width="510" align="center" border="0"> <tbody> <tr> <td valign="top" width="251"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-NlVaRDBoOZg/VvCIbbjUKEI/AAAAAAAAGlo/aerVMxwfQM0/s1600-h/Morocco%252520and%252520Liechtenstein%252520on%252520digital%252520camera%252520019%25255B3%25255D.jpg" target="_blank"><img title="" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="View into kitchen" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFwcA9y_5WVzbAXgYyIgpFq6R_odanqwQPklvVRTBd0G5s_q_ZyyQIxAc4JWhyphenhyphenAT6NtINQ2d0TTk42M_anY4u_Fk3iyxLzI-kjrMBjb-xM03TT41PIbXB_byHy7BQMzblREkTrU8V0tUGl/?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184"></a></td> <td valign="top" width="251" align="center"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-tMHIe5gp6TY/VvCIcs94PEI/AAAAAAAAGlw/wyiCIVk72wY/s1600-h/Morocco%252520and%252520Liechtenstein%252520on%252520digital%252520camera%252520026%25255B4%25255D.jpg" target="_blank"><img title="Morocco and Liechtenstein on digital camera 026" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="Lamb and egg tajine" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-gkvo8SKdpjE/VvCIeTjG5GI/AAAAAAAAGl0/q33zWuaQB9Y/Morocco%252520and%252520Liechtenstein%252520on%252520digital%252520camera%252520026_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184"></a></td></tr> <tr> <td valign="top" width="251" align="center"><strong><em><font size="2">View into the kitchen</font></em></strong></td> <td valign="top" width="251" align="center"> <p><strong><em><font size="2">Lamb and egg tajine</font></em></strong></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div> <p align="left"> </p> <div align="left"> <table cellspacing="2" cellpadding="2" width="270" align="left" border="0"> <tbody> <tr> <td valign="top" width="264"> <p align="center"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-tDxu4fY289s/VvCIfGvE7GI/AAAAAAAAGl4/FDWAl10n3ss/s1600-h/max%252520of%252520riad%252520la%252520porte%252520rouge%25255B34%25255D.jpg" target="_blank"><img title="" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; float: left; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px 10px 0px 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="Max the cat" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-IYMu78gaG64/VvCIfxM9NTI/AAAAAAAAGl8/fDXDxqNoXhk/max%252520of%252520riad%252520la%252520porte%252520rouge_thumb%25255B29%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="304" align="left" height="232"></a></p></td></tr> <tr> <td valign="top" width="264"> <p align="center"><strong><em><font size="2"> Max, the riad’s mascot</font></em></strong></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div> <p><font size="3">Since Thursday evening Taiwan time, I had spent many hours traveling through three continents. I was exhaused and thrilled. Tomorrow at 8:00am I would be heading to the High Atlas Mountains so it was time to finally get some real sleep (not airplane “sleep”) in a comfy bed. </font></p>Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01563142738245530462noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3159873086866022417.post-1997064244844489552016-03-20T21:58:00.000+08:002016-04-30T21:58:54.034+08:00Day 11 SQ, 1 PU, 1 SU<span style="font-family: Arial Unicode MS; font-size: small;">
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Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01563142738245530462noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3159873086866022417.post-17087645389479614122015-06-01T10:36:00.000+08:002015-06-01T10:36:03.662+08:00Some advice on karma<span style="font-family: Arial Unicode MS; font-size: small;">I've had the following newspaper clipping on my refrigerator since 2008, when I brought it from the US to my new home in Taiwan. It's a response to a question posed to advice columnist Carolyn Hax.</span><br />
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<a href="https://www.blogger.com/$karma[3].gif" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><span style="font-size: medium;"><strong>Why do good when being bad seems to be more rewarding?</strong></span><br />
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<i>Carolyn:</i><br />
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<i>Do you believe that what goes around comes around?</i><br />
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<i>I've seen it too much lately where the bad guy wins. The jerk in my office got the promotion. A guy who cheated on me and all the other girls he dated managed to get a nice girl to marry him. My friend was fired unfairly because of a suck-up to the boss who spread lies. I could go on. I'm starting to wonder what living by the Golden Rule is getting me.</i><br />
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—Karma Town<br /><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxCLANcrSwxHOScbp6mVnpjbiJY0psTv5lc9eb43JSZXqPoWRXr_isgKTARoxNQNL1e9brxAtKytL-W_MYXk6qYgx5IFvfmLZL1K4NtpCqOZLX6woWpP4emV3b80QNYc53owwoS4fANlHI/s1600/karma.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxCLANcrSwxHOScbp6mVnpjbiJY0psTv5lc9eb43JSZXqPoWRXr_isgKTARoxNQNL1e9brxAtKytL-W_MYXk6qYgx5IFvfmLZL1K4NtpCqOZLX6woWpP4emV3b80QNYc53owwoS4fANlHI/s1600/karma.gif" /></a><span style="font-size: small;">I believe what "comes around" for being a jerk -- assuming the jerk doesn't eventually grow into a better person -- is dying alone. Even if you're a jerk with people in your life, your relationships with others are strained, conflicted or outright bad, and so you still die alone even though you have family surrounding your bed. I see a spouse and children who can't admit they hate you except maybe in therapy, and only then if they have the nerve to confront and grow from their problems.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">Of course, if you have no conscience, then you don't care. Surely someone cheats for the promotion and gets the girl, and then laughs all the way to the bank while abusing the wife -- who, the classic victim, stays by him till he dies -- and leaves the world feeling like he won the lottery.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">But then the question has to be, do you want that life?</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">I also don't believe "what goes around comes around" just so the good can watch the bad get theirs. Entertaining though it may be.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">You feel like the good guy finishing last; I get it, and sympathize. However, the justice in being good is perfect only if you treat goodness as its own reward.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">If religious reasons for this didn't stick, here's a pragmatic one: Make it about a promotion or getting the nice girl, and it becomes a quid-pro-quo, clean-your-room-and-you-can-have-dessert system -- which is swell, but logistically impossible. You can see when a room is clean; you can't always know whether an employee is predatory or a mate is cheating, and of course icy roads can't distinguish nice drivers from mean. So at least some spoils are going to be doled out unfairly. And that's before you even begin to tackle the question: Dessert -- good or bad?</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">So, this is really about how to handle unfairness. If whining made people feel better, the demands for beer, cigarettes, gambling, shopping and corn chips would dry </span><span style="font-size: small;">up in 24 hours. If everyone took </span><span style="font-size: small;">the if-you-can't-beat-'em-join-'em approach, society would be gone in a long afternoon of looting.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">I suppose you can let everyone else be good while you grab what you want on the sly -- but either it'll torment you or you're as bad as those who disgust you.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">If instead you keep treating others as well as you can and make your best guess about the way others are treating you and, when you screw up one of these, try to do better next time, and repeat repeat repeat, then your gratification occasionally may get flecked with envy, frustration and loss. Nevertheless, it will be immediate, constant and in endless supply -- and totally in your control.<br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><em>From the <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/07/24/AR2007072402272_pf.html" target="_blank">Washington Post, July 25, 2007</a><br />By Carolyn Hax, Washington Post Staff Writer</em></span>Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01563142738245530462noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3159873086866022417.post-62807449765360084212014-12-31T17:21:00.001+08:002015-03-25T00:13:29.004+08:00Okinawa geocaching trip<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-f5QrN4UNtv8/VKO9-B6C_bI/AAAAAAAAFZE/1cYLBjILSTU/s1600-h/Okinawa-00110.jpg"><img align="left" alt="Okinawa 001" border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-lk2CNCGjMzg/VKO9_OKgjqI/AAAAAAAAFZM/EIhhsmiva1k/Okinawa-001_thumb6.jpg?imgmax=800" height="340" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; float: left; margin: 0px 10px 0px 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Being serenaded by an Okinawan Shīsā シーサー" width="204" /></a></span><br />
I've wanted to go to Japan for the longest time, and I finally made it! But before I get into that...<span style="font-size: small;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">The last couple of months have been emotionally difficult for me, to say the least, as evidenced by my last few blog entries. I'm happy to say that my final blog entry for 2014 will be on an upbeat note, due in a big part to my new hobby, aka passion, aka obsession—geocaching.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Geocaching has saved my sanity. It's pushed me out of my apartment and into my surroundings and beyond, to discover and rediscover the magic and life that exists all around me.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: small;">If you read this blog and don't knew what geocaching is, it's a kind of treasure hunting game played all over the world by all kinds of people. There are many videos and websites that talk about this fun pastime; here's a short video introduction: </span><br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/1YTqitVK-Ts" width="500"></iframe> <br />
<span style="font-size: small;">This past weekend I had a rare two days off. Inspired by my friend Ryan, who just a couple of weeks earlier had flown to one of Taiwan's outer islands for a one-day geocaching trip, I made a last-minute decision to go geocaching in Okinawa, Japan. Okinawa is only one hour away by airplane, so it fit my mini vacation schedule perfectly. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">This was my first time in Japan, besides airport transfers, and the experience was wonderful. I'm positive I'll return in the future; after all, there are still dozens of geocaches there yet to be found!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">The following photos are from my trip. Most are related to geocaching—that was the purpose of the trip—which may bore you, or hopefully get you curious about the hobby.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">In the spirit of geocaching, most of my photo comments are "hidden"; you can read them if you're using a computer mouse. <em>(Hint: Revoh ruoy esuom revo eht sotohp)</em></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><strong><em>Click on the photos to see the full size versions.</em></strong></span><br />
<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-PAs7-aS31v0/VKO9_x9mWBI/AAAAAAAAFZU/Fti_7l58iJU/s1600-h/Okinawa-00230.jpg"><img align="left" alt="Okinawa 002" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-UJU7KO17RRA/VKO-A2YkLBI/AAAAAAAAFZc/IBVuliMFpcI/Okinawa-002_thumb26.jpg?imgmax=800" height="285" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; float: left; margin: 0px 10px 0px 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="This is my "It's not even sunrise and I'm awake? I need coffee NOW before I bite your head off!" expression. " width="504" /></a><br />
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6:00am at Taoyuan Airport. Breakfast at the airport Burger King, naturally. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlE50XgbrjY-qQhBEMV-EgQ3W7P712XVJFJ8LwnI85gy8OCdIn2ETHCOlvmpxLB7dQywdWsJR79D5_MYeguTKuG7x08O9HrBlsj_XnLKg0VbHcVc6MgUjO_nHoZN8HNRd83k7vA4va6NO2/s1600-h/Okinawa-0037.jpg"><img alt="Okinawa 003" border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-toXyikgDLHI/VKO-CWulM0I/AAAAAAAAFZs/cep6sOO0tSA/Okinawa-003_thumb5.jpg?imgmax=800" height="235" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; margin: 0px 10px 0px 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title=""Monorēru" in Japanese" width="504" /></a> <br />
I'm in Japan! I took a few minutes in the airport to just sit and take it all in. The first order of business? Go find a geocache, of course!<br />
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<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-xhEHF1C9JTs/VKO-DJ_w-cI/AAAAAAAAFZ0/cMU_lcJRVqA/s1600-h/Okinawa-005-naha-airport-cats3.jpg"><img alt="Okinawa 005 naha airport cats" border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-dMRFqwKYZf4/VKO-EKMs83I/AAAAAAAAFZ8/Yl9TbmGNQIM/Okinawa-005-naha-airport-cats_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" height="285" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; margin: 0px 10px 0px 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Artsy-fartsy photo of myself" width="504" /></a> <br />
I located the coordinates at a five-minute walk from the airport. The clue said to find two kittens (see them?), then search in the direction that one of them was looking...<br />
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<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-xvhk-82cUo0/VKO-E5BBkCI/AAAAAAAAFaE/SSQDpyR2WJY/s1600-h/Okinawa-006-naha-airport-cats5.jpg"><img alt="Okinawa 006 naha airport cats" border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-Phbygv42IFU/VKO-FgHiHbI/AAAAAAAAFaM/WoWFJ2fzzO0/Okinawa-006-naha-airport-cats_thumb3.jpg?imgmax=800" height="504" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="I'm sure the passersby were thinking, "There's another foreigner, taking pictures of the most random things."" width="269" /></a> <br />
...which was around this tsunami warning.<br />
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<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-brgCOHQd0R4/VKO-GCEtyOI/AAAAAAAAFaU/-v6gRZ4EbbA/s1600-h/Okinawa-004-naha-airport-cats3.jpg"><img alt="GC4XMBD Naha Airport Cats" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-MyvxlER-qlc/VKO-HM7vjyI/AAAAAAAAFac/fCF_x2dYX6c/Okinawa-004-naha-airport-cats_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" height="504" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="That 中 mahjong tile is kind of my calling card; I include it in each cache log photo that I take. It's actually a cigarette lighter, which caused raised eyebrows by airport officials and resulted in a second trip for me through airport security." width="169" /></a> <br />
My first log signed outside of Taiwan! This cache is called <a href="http://www.geocaching.com/geocache/GC4XMBD_naha-airport-cats?guid=c219807d-11a4-46d6-b505-1a3210ec6a72" target="_blank">Naha Airport Cats (GC4XMBD)</a> as is a Mystery Cache to boot!<br />
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<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-arZJuSwGvs4/VKO-H0KilUI/AAAAAAAAFak/TQx9cuHIeDM/s1600-h/Okinawa-0074.jpg"><img align="left" alt="Okinawa 007" border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-8_JxlXflxgI/VKO-IuZ6U3I/AAAAAAAAFas/9BOeVRFr8yo/Okinawa-007_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" height="285" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; float: left; margin: 0px 10px 0px 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="I couldn't figure out how to use the machine to purchase the pass because everything was in Japanese. After trying to figure it out for a few minutes, I had a major "Duh!" moment when I spotted the big ENGLISH option button." width="504" /></a> <br />
Time to try out the Japanese transportation system. I bought a two-day monorail pass, which would take me all over Naha. <br />
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<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-a4ZaauSqdFA/VKO-JThZ35I/AAAAAAAAFa0/usqDYR4iC8Q/s1600-h/Okinawa-0083.jpg"><img alt="Okinawa 008" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-neHBUD8bUZ4/VKO-KLRT3YI/AAAAAAAAFa8/PmGWpbVnyRQ/Okinawa-008_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" height="504" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="There IS a cache with the title "The Japanese Westernmost Station"; however, I didn't bother looking for it since the last six entries are DNFs (Did Not Find). Come on, cache owner, do some maintenance!" width="285" /></a> <br />
By the way, Naha-kuko Airport Station is the westernmost rail station in Japan. That's what this sign says, complete with geocachers beloved coordinates! <br />
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<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-YZpmmWYtgcI/VKO-K-C-TII/AAAAAAAAFbE/qQbEmDG5tM0/s1600-h/Okinawa-008a3.jpg"><img align="left" alt="Okinawa 008a" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-ZB2f7qcvFQU/VKO-LottIpI/AAAAAAAAFbM/gSCUU5XJixA/Okinawa-008a_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" height="285" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; float: left; margin: 0px 10px 0px 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="This monorail looked pretty much just like the MRT system in Taipei, with each station announced in Japanese and English, so it's very easy to navigate." width="504" /></a> <br />
Next stop: Akamine Station.<br />
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<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-JYehM4LrRa0/VKO-Mc-55QI/AAAAAAAAFbU/EmFfxVrtHuM/s1600-h/Okinawa-008b3.jpg"><img align="left" alt="Okinawa 008b" border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-sL8UK4I1otU/VKO-NRPEVgI/AAAAAAAAFbc/PQST1Ehgga4/Okinawa-008b_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" height="438" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; float: left; margin: 0px 10px 0px 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="For language nerds: This sign is pronounced "Doh-a chuui!" in Japanese which, if you know some English and Chinese, is easy to understand. "Doh-a" is "door" borrowed from English, and "chyuui" sounds very much like Chinese "zhu yi" 住意 (pay attention)" width="504" /></a> <br />
You don't need to be able to read Japanese to understand this safety message on all of the monorail doors. How cute is that?! <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKNunAPmCnDAs5usG2jkaDLRBGFjoJoiMxpNRAbdH6yBsoU6I5hu1fzjPO4gsLeGQdi1kjVV2UzJDK6IrdFMX8xIIYXv9dl2n03lE1pMQMXSl0MeL_jWVW5TDLiPx7c4r0cl10lJCFi7K0/s1600-h/Okinawa-009-southernmost-station3.jpg"><img alt="Okinawa 009 southernmost station" border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-1x3yz8JW80I/VKO-OyaBGgI/AAAAAAAAFbs/WXzIFKUfQIc/Okinawa-009-southernmost-station_thu.jpg?imgmax=800" height="504" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="This is the last photo of a boring stone monument, I promise." width="285" /></a> <br />
Cache #2: Akamine Station. It's interesting that Japan's southernmost rail station is only one stop from its westernmost station. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisUwe7PhFAi1IBeWjpDu2Blbx4f4R2xWKR6-MTkWqH-XS0joPtG-BU79gbEC1fu3W-pH5VfiOOCMFHJTRkDGoLXgAwPP5921tPe7Hi-YT76EgDJbrixgGQ7MxGOJnalMbCXgM0a-qUmmBH/s1600-h/Okinawa-011-southernmost-station3.jpg"><img alt="Okinawa 011 southernmost station" border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-lMlyqA0GSSo/VKO-QNsW7nI/AAAAAAAAFb8/O059rHJWUm4/Okinawa-011-southernmost-station_thu.jpg?imgmax=800" height="504" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="But it's not the last boring photo of my geocache logs. Not even close." width="175" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.geocaching.com/geocache/GC43VZC_the-japanese-southernmost-station?guid=4566da66-6897-4109-abb4-60ebe8fe6f38" target="_blank">The Japanese Southernmost Station (GC43VZC)</a> cache log. <br />
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<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/--N7G-Od2Fqo/VKO-ReFcR9I/AAAAAAAAFcE/JHnx-zrLaO8/s1600-h/Okinawa-010-southernmost-station3.jpg"><img align="left" alt="Okinawa 010 southernmost station" border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-py75no0_Jaw/VKO-SDMorKI/AAAAAAAAFcM/K7gx_SDlLKc/Okinawa-010-southernmost-station_thu.jpg?imgmax=800" height="285" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; float: left; margin: 0px 10px 0px 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="No, it's not my shoe. Not my color." width="504" /></a> <br />
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It was still morning and so I hadn't checked into my hotel yet. Here's my luggage on a bench near the cache. <br />
With random shoe. <br />
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<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-KR0KIrQ3em4/VKO-S1zhiUI/AAAAAAAAFcU/4Jlxw9k05Vs/s1600-h/Okinawa-0124.jpg"><img align="left" alt="Okinawa 012" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-CMa8Dt-tjms/VKO-Tvn55ZI/AAAAAAAAFcc/8EDAPx4JQ3E/Okinawa-012_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" height="285" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; float: left; margin: 0px 10px 0px 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Calpis still makes me giggle." width="504" /></a> <br />
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It's true what you've heard: The Japanese love their vending machines. They're literally everywhere. <br />
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<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-0FAP-eOYoFQ/VKO-U5e9W4I/AAAAAAAAFck/NOzh09FCh4I/s1600-h/Okinawa-013-Kanagusuku-Kache3.jpg"><img align="left" alt="Okinawa 013 Kanagusuku Kache" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-iR3c-AscpHk/VKO-Vg-NR9I/AAAAAAAAFcs/Dl0CDy3w9jE/Okinawa-013-Kanagusuku-Kache_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" height="285" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; float: left; margin: 0px 10px 0px 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="This was the first of several parks that I visited, all of which were aesthetically pleasing and well-maintained. Oh Japan, how do you do it?" width="504" /></a> <br />
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Next monorail stop was Oroku Station, with two geocaches located nearby. The first was a short walk away at Kanagusuku Park. It was a beautiful sunny Saturday morning, yet I had the place to myself. <br />
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<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-10FDLReO_5Y/VKO-WsBZsFI/AAAAAAAAFc0/wPASdQvBmAI/s1600-h/Okinawa-014-Kanagusuku-Kache3.jpg"><img align="left" alt="Okinawa 014 Kanagusuku Kache" border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-_UngF4rh5to/VKO-XuIb7XI/AAAAAAAAFc8/IzBSzoYYKCs/Okinawa-014-Kanagusuku-Kache_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" height="285" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; float: left; margin: 0px 10px 0px 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="A group of kids walked by while I was crawling through the shrubs, so I did my patented "pretend to be interested in the plants and taking photos of the bugs"® move." width="504" /></a> <br />
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So tranquil...I could stay here forever. And I almost did, as the cache was well hidden in that group of trees in the distance. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHaUflXaeGLSxPpaAZtWQahlpowbWAPTNzHFtwYx-hofbH0RO-I25l9DqWqWtMRLnPBN9pxgVaScFCkHQRHwLNh7TZKWKsHreADJ1nSOUYHJ8XxdkMP7tG-ixzVFAd472bW5SbeAcn_SHL/s1600-h/Okinawa-015-Kanagusuku-Kache3.jpg"><img align="left" alt="Okinawa 015 Kanagusuku Kache" border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-RKgjiqP-hTg/VKO-ZBO1BCI/AAAAAAAAFdM/l05Oq12wmCk/Okinawa-015-Kanagusuku-Kache_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" height="285" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; float: left; margin: 0px 10px 0px 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="This cache was the first time I've ever taken any swag, which was that William's Family button on the left. I also left swag in each cache that had the room for it: A mahjong tile and a Taiwanese coin." width="504" /></a> <br />
Jackpot! Cache #3 in Japan, <a href="http://www.geocaching.com/geocache/GC155P2_kanagusuku-kache?guid=6512b53a-7b0b-44f7-b0f4-4df62eceef9a" target="_blank">Kanagusuku Kache (GC155P2).</a> <br />
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<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-9EK7gj2my0g/VKO-Z7zAdyI/AAAAAAAAFdU/b2IVUpSzBlw/s1600-h/Okinawa-0163.jpg"><img align="left" alt="Okinawa 016" border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-l2QauFSIn20/VKO-amO7qAI/AAAAAAAAFdc/Q9dVEr4CzUs/Okinawa-016_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" height="327" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; float: left; margin: 0px 10px 0px 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="I haven't been to an A&W place since I was in elementary school. Seriously, I remember getting root beer floats at an A&W at the shopping center (that's the old name for "mall", kids) near my house when I was like seven years old." width="504" /></a> <br />
It's time for lunch, it's my first time in Japan, so where do I go? To an American restaurant, of course! <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgevvhTzQt2zR8-J-v22Ud3zVB_ZYHKTFsa12_EDhLigMrRbmvrDsq4XBxb9ZeTUTdzgo-XY3YvyYfO-xwTISgEl3gJeilhSHOrMhz_3aIbUks2adOKi7Jz-XMYXeMfTSHdLWzNZFIsNIum/s1600-h/Okinawa-0173.jpg"><img align="left" alt="Okinawa 017" border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-HxxzYBFLgls/VKO-cfnZ8pI/AAAAAAAAFds/6d3WgD_MiG0/Okinawa-017_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" height="285" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; float: left; margin: 0px 10px 0px 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title=""Root Bear" is an infinitely better marketing pun than the "Berry Kristmush" I saw later at Burger King. Yep, Berry Kristmush." width="504" /></a> <br />
Click on the photo to enlarge if you want to get a better look. This place was pretty popular with the locals. <br />
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<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-XnbHQoyjn58/VKO-dLWO1sI/AAAAAAAAFd0/SCoRUNMTLeQ/s1600-h/Okinawa-019-near-Oroku-station4.jpg"><img alt="Okinawa 019 near Oroku station" border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-rTUyvXbhZgM/VKO-d-e15xI/AAAAAAAAFd8/WHWCOMXG5CA/Okinawa-019-near-Oroku-station_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" height="504" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Although, while concentrating on taking this photo, I almost collided with that bicycle rider you see. " width="285" /></a><br />
Walking to the next cache. Notice the indicated areas for bicycles and pedestrians. There's the monorail on the right. <br />
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<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-fmDzRiGtrTs/VKO-eiX5NBI/AAAAAAAAFeE/DMoz5gIZk10/s1600-h/Okinawa-020-near-Oroku-station3.jpg"><img align="left" alt="Okinawa 020 near Oroku station" border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-BIypiYKBuTs/VKO-fvpOmBI/AAAAAAAAFeM/AVQDlOoOizc/Okinawa-020-near-Oroku-station_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" height="285" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; float: left; margin: 0px 10px 0px 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Or, perhaps it's a Japanese robot?" width="504" /></a> <br />
I believe this was a public restroom. <br />
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<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-ghAPnna-aEw/VKO-gZomlxI/AAAAAAAAFeU/Q6m-iqmxz30/s1600-h/Okinawa-021-Buyon-3.jpg"><img alt="Okinawa 021 Buyon (ブヨン)" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-VmV8PhNEkNo/VKO-g1zI7NI/AAAAAAAAFec/TkDCuKxybSI/Okinawa-021-Buyon-_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" height="484" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="I think Buyon has visited that A&W above a bit too often." width="394" /></a> <br />
This is the online description of the geocache I was searching for at this time. This particular one is part of a Dragonball series, which means you can find it as a stand-alone, or record the clues that are found on the containers at each cache for a larger puzzle. This owner, Big Dave, adds a lot of detail to his hides, which makes them very fun and quite popular in Okinawa. <br />
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<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-yqHBCdK0yAw/VKO-hkCKPvI/AAAAAAAAFek/0CII_fakn18/s1600-h/Okinawa-021a3.jpg"><img alt="Okinawa 021a" border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-dEM7PxTXg9w/VKO-illimZI/AAAAAAAAFes/I0atcRjayHU/Okinawa-021a_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" height="484" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="I didn't have time to do the bigger puzzle, but next time...." width="372" /></a> <br />
Inside the cache lid is a clue to a bigger puzzle, which looks like this. <br />
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<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-YtyiaHnNLoo/VKO-jbAkRfI/AAAAAAAAFe0/UqbnfoDrug8/s1600-h/Okinawa-022-Buyon-3.jpg"><img alt="Okinawa 022 Buyon (ブヨン)" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4qVk1DEmDRN2_VKAsfj7rYr9vqKJ0LuXwrT5RsPVsm09F0X7n4nYUt_f3ZofO1A_-Yi3eCjv7tRW4DdJSDL03Ie6u0wwo-tbf2JJaQfxnXq2PiEkRdaaTcfAhiytYgGN63fWxPEa3lp46/?imgmax=800" height="504" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="The actual cache location turned out to be not even close to this statue; however, it was one of the most interesting hides I found in Okinawa." width="285" /></a> <br />
I reached the park and found Buyon; now to find GZ (Ground Zero) and the cache container. <br />
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<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-ld0SoPZXOjs/VKO-k0a7YsI/AAAAAAAAFfE/90DnyGgtxno/s1600-h/Okinawa-023-Buyon-3.jpg"><img alt="Okinawa 023 Buyon (ブヨン)" border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-crOBeqqcV9Q/VKO-lQO3EXI/AAAAAAAAFfM/t9hvGQ58u-c/Okinawa-023-Buyon-_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" height="504" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="I walked up and down a steep path in the park at least three times trying to find the GZ, finally realizing that it was OFF the path, on a rather steep slope among the trees. I'm lucky that the weather was nice because previous finders logged how slippery the area was, one guy having dropped his GPS that started sliding down the wet hill." width="125" /></a><br />
Find #4 in Okinawa (49th find overall) was especially satisfying, as I really had to use my head and 'geosenses' to figure it out. I decided to drop off the first of my trackables, the East Wind travel bug that you see in the photo. I was going to do this on my 50th find, as sort of a milestone marker, but I really liked this cache, and it had a big enough container to hold the trackable, so in it went. This cache is called <a href="http://www.geocaching.com/geocache/GC4XD9Q_buyon?guid=7923034e-8933-4b08-a16a-c758c78fcedf" target="_blank">Buyon ブヨン (GC4XD9Q)</a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg00N-bu2xsJCvpbAA_U2cqW2cv2-0yghjWrN4RaFl2NVgRf75eF7rhV61_B8NZJslZeqaYKEM7I0xmg_9O03BFq0auvzYDRIjAWZvS0fuz4Wf3bPGw8zfJWM9XkpGKPLtUEqJBcaJloMT4/s1600-h/Okinawa-024-near-Oroku-station3.jpg"><img align="left" alt="Okinawa 024 near Oroku station" border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-SDnB9X63VQM/VKO-nLbdETI/AAAAAAAAFfc/VlnXlt6hcFY/Okinawa-024-near-Oroku-station_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" height="285" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; float: left; margin: 0px 10px 0px 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="It took me a good 25 minutes to figure out how to register for and access the free WiFi. And, the instructions were in English. Technology, why must you be such a cruel mistress? " width="504" /></a><br />
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Time to celebrate with a coffee break. I chose Starbucks because of its familiarity, but mostly because it offers free WiFi and I was itching to log my finds online. I just had to take a picture of the nice message written on my cup.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjniGMEWD_SrFuhHTYEHnOrr3L8wK3lwms7kd0sS24kc7TmiBRfRiekCwBrPCEfNVWo339U0et9fMo_5hUYeOqMnDJy6zsXw7uiVxo9vWUQt7PhnsevUIzkMREjzvY8cZjvreX2IxQNoFMx/s1600-h/Okinawa-025-near-Oroku-station3.jpg"><img align="left" alt="Okinawa 025 near Oroku station" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-TpPsmrCgyCc/VKO-o7XoBgI/AAAAAAAAFfs/SNt9yfd9P8M/Okinawa-025-near-Oroku-station_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" height="329" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; float: left; margin: 0px 10px 0px 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="The Japanese are well-known for their extreme politeness, which has me curious: How to graciously tell people that, if they don't convert, they and their children will die by the hands of God's fiery vengeance at the imminent war of Armageddon?" width="504" /></a><br />
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Outside of Starbucks, at the entrance to the monorail station, I spotted these two Jehovah's Witnesses. Their methods have changed a bit since I was involved with them... <br />
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<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-P7VMqrZs_eg/VKO-phvt-3I/AAAAAAAAFf0/0hvRgYvQiM8/s1600-h/Okinawa-026-near-Oroku-station3.jpg"><img alt="Okinawa 026 near Oroku station" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEG0hP60iQfW99P3i87y50ou-LYfzCZLT4XeNH6PRVPqUpEgAKVqUCZhJtAe2u7ZrygJXKrlwAfMenQf-YN1wKFucwrsUYUiNJorAculuXjtZt0R3Hl06raXoEdCHxDsT_XngPWMu13G2M/?imgmax=800" height="504" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="SO much more convient while chatting with each other, waiting for your break at the donut shop. More info can be found at JW.ORG. [There, got my time in for the month]" width="321" /></a><br />
My former-JW friends may be surprised to see these large posters and literature carts that are now being used in public places. <br />
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<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-KGOfi3eAKaI/VKO-rAeZTsI/AAAAAAAAFgE/JSqJ478Xt0M/s1600-h/Okinawa-027-Onoyama-koen-station3.jpg"><img alt="Okinawa 027 Onoyama-koen station" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwDQAVBT2tGoyzcGleDwYwI6q60oDEFtIaebpIMbAxBhXDevo_sVD1X1KkaE-RvRJRU95dCZxpoV83YzTBVqsYlt6PJbnv5pFjf3UzM8pURW0n4STycusH0xLK-yLBsvmHcRzbca4cMIM3/?imgmax=800" height="504" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Seriously easy. If you're a geocacher reading this, the hint and photo takes you by the arm, leads you to the exact location, and practically places it in your hands." width="173" /></a><br />
The next cache, which was at <a href="http://www.geocaching.com/geocache/GC4WZCC_noyama-ken-station?guid=d9db5720-f22f-450e-bb92-eff24089efb5" target="_blank">Ōnoyama-kōen Station (GC4WZCC),</a> was was an easy find. <br />
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<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-wkHAr9PLeTs/VKO-ssPABcI/AAAAAAAAFgU/kw2DsuC7m3Q/s1600-h/Okinawa-0283.jpg"><img alt="Okinawa 028" border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-y_nadsNGW4w/VKO-tdW0n6I/AAAAAAAAFgc/vMytXVqOw_Y/Okinawa-028_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" height="504" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="At least, I think it's a karaoke place. With a name like "Wa!" I guess it could just as well be a baby daycare or something." width="339" /></a> <br />
This is how I feel when I find a cache...Wa! This is a karaoke place, by the way. <br />
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<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-0Cud-FiRapg/VKO-uBuQM4I/AAAAAAAAFgk/mZa0CWhmezU/s1600-h/Okinawa-0293.jpg"><img align="left" alt="Okinawa 029" border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-0oTMD2WfbaY/VKO-u5xB00I/AAAAAAAAFgs/D9_dokPmY_8/Okinawa-029_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" height="364" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; float: left; margin: 0px 10px 0px 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="The monorail was a five-minute walk away, but even better, Family Mart was 30 seconds away!" width="504" /></a><br />
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Time to head to my hotel, check in, drop off my bags, and continue the search! My hotel, the <a href="http://www.agoda.com/hotel-rasso-naha-matsuyama/hotel/okinawa-jp.html" target="_blank">Rasso Naha Matsuyama</a>, is the tall building with the orange signs. <br />
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<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-mxOyM0B8EIE/VKO-vqLUr2I/AAAAAAAAFg0/75r9XEWKkBM/s1600-h/Okinawa-0304.jpg"><img align="left" alt="Okinawa 030" border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-OrILxBO2ZVc/VKO-wYiUvkI/AAAAAAAAFg8/W9kV7qdexH4/Okinawa-030_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" height="285" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; float: left; margin: 0px 10px 0px 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="TV had only six channels, but I wasn't in Japan to watch TV, right?" width="504" /></a><br />
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The room was small by western standards, but I'm used to living in spall spaces now so this felt normal to me. The bed was comfortable and the room was clean and didn't smell like smoke, which are my main criteria. <br />
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<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-GYpqpzeWRnw/VKO-xP7lj0I/AAAAAAAAFhE/IRrrQk8iXmQ/s1600-h/Okinawa-0313.jpg"><img align="left" alt="Okinawa 031" border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-jivs73AZO0s/VKO-x5KSShI/AAAAAAAAFhM/9mZsADMRF-k/Okinawa-031_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" height="285" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; float: left; margin: 0px 10px 0px 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="This was a budget hotel, so no fancy music-playing, seat-warming, butt-spraying toilet here. Too bad." width="504" /></a><br />
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A deep Japanese bathtub. Ahhh.... <br />
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<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-jxdHyqmeSfU/VKO-ykANouI/AAAAAAAAFhU/TUkHsNhFKpQ/s1600-h/Okinawa-0323.jpg"><img alt="Okinawa 032" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-0BWQcf-3bq0/VKO-zRaK3oI/AAAAAAAAFhc/3FKqMrL_1x8/Okinawa-032_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" height="484" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Good God, is there NO escape? " width="376" /></a><br />
And just across the street... <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjCirM6BsCyJR5SkJsANe-3fNLq8XuGJ9ju9-bd_Wr8EEb6ANy7NZtm6WQalAcl5sQFnVE-THoGd6NNRDUVEP9UkoEIZzVyAXCsbHMDizVx39AvBG04ccImIpIJI31Jb0OJg4HyvDFVxnr/s1600-h/Okinawa-0333.jpg"><img align="left" alt="Okinawa 033" border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-gBmNpHyteRA/VKO-09mSerI/AAAAAAAAFhs/_8VXh5lD2OI/Okinawa-033_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" height="276" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; float: left; margin: 0px 10px 0px 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Don't let that fool you. "Just walk around" means make a beeline for the nearest Starbucks. Latte and free WiFi are priorities." width="504" /></a><br />
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Now, time to explore my surroundings. Let's see...<br />
Nope, still have no idea where I am. Let's just walk around and see where I'll end up. <br />
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<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-pyI2xqt1FjI/VKO-1iku1lI/AAAAAAAAFh0/iyg_v-duugc/s1600-h/Okinawa-0345.jpg"><img alt="Okinawa 034" border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-ihxKO_QeDmA/VKO-2dvJH4I/AAAAAAAAFh8/9C_lGLdPXFE/Okinawa-034_thumb3.jpg?imgmax=800" height="484" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Who am I kidding? God put efficient public transportation and taxis in Japan especially for lazy folks like me." width="290" /></a> <br />
That's about US$1.60 / hr. Since I can't rent a car or scooter in Japan without an international license, I'll make a mental note of this place for tomorrow. <br />
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<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-g6g_E-zef8o/VKO-3eihGrI/AAAAAAAAFiE/ohNy42rra2U/s1600-h/Okinawa-0353.jpg"><img align="left" alt="Okinawa 035" border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-OOLbOZEMy_o/VKO-4DFSwhI/AAAAAAAAFiM/tYAtRaI2wGE/Okinawa-035_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" height="286" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; float: left; margin: 0px 10px 0px 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="If you don't know what that means, just picture a Japanese school girl spotting a teddy bear wearing a frog costume; a high-pitched "Kawaii!!!" is what you'll hear [hands to mouth, anime eyes]" width="504" /></a><br />
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The 100 ¥en store, like the Dollar Store, but loads more KAWAII!<br />
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<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-KCtAsk2UaUE/VKO-4yE6Z6I/AAAAAAAAFiU/ShlZkFbAkyA/s1600-h/Okinawa-0366.jpg"><img alt="Okinawa 036" border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-X8SKn7ynoyQ/VKO-5r52HzI/AAAAAAAAFic/6eV0nP-Y8n0/Okinawa-036_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" height="484" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="I didn't go inside, but I imagine that the phone is completely robotic, while the booth is climate controlled with UV blocking glass, and offers a choice of aromatherapy scents." width="274" /></a> <br />
It's been a long time since I saw a public phone booth. Can Superman be far behind? <br />
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<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-_x1VVwSRGu0/VKO-6fonGwI/AAAAAAAAFik/krgMpmyGYhU/s1600-h/Okinawa-0373.jpg"><img alt="Okinawa 037" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-XO5Tj8dsm64/VKO-7BbTFMI/AAAAAAAAFis/m6S9FsYacjg/Okinawa-037_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" height="484" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Fun Fact: One of the most popular cigarette brands in Taiwan is called "Long Life." I kid you not." width="284" /></a> <br />
It's also been decades since I've seen a cigarette machine in a public place. <br />
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<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-aCgLe5gHoC4/VKO-7-jqgII/AAAAAAAAFi0/wmZnV3_49Ks/s1600-h/Okinawa-0383.jpg"><img alt="Okinawa 038" border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-m5QjjpAtT0M/VKO-86pelTI/AAAAAAAAFi8/NWpnNrLRUoE/Okinawa-038_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" height="484" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="I myself can't stand cigarette smoke, so I was a bit apprehensive because I'd heard that the Japanese are big smokers. However, I didn't encounter many during my stay." width="432" /></a> <br />
Ironically, this message appears on the sidewalk near the above machine. <br />
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<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-R4m04eMqHjY/VKO-9heM8EI/AAAAAAAAFjE/-8kHnm-zXxc/s1600-h/Okinawa-038a3.jpg"><img align="left" alt="Okinawa 038a" border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-6psiJgIfVsk/VKO--Ut8pPI/AAAAAAAAFjM/VfcQn91N6hQ/Okinawa-038a_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" height="292" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; float: left; margin: 0px 10px 0px 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Although, being Japan, I have a feeling the graffiti uses polite language and honors its elders. Kind of like Canadian graffiti." width="504" /></a><br />
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The seedy, underbelly of Naha. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIyR6tEb9wbXF0lpPA3uAQlAm5n6S7Z6VRhF_CJC_59YK0vDO5LIT_fDgUcbPd4MmMHwzbXwgckKU2SCsDkHzG0I6CEe-k_D5GCK9jtMN7GMty1hxfekkXqq99Gm14jjmA7PW-l3cm9EYf/s1600-h/Okinawa-0393.jpg"><img align="left" alt="Okinawa 039" border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-XlYfc0_Q1h4/VKO-_9BvQmI/AAAAAAAAFjc/dhPNhnyuREI/Okinawa-039_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" height="299" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; float: left; margin: 0px 10px 0px 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Po-po is Okinawan dialect for "Girrrlfriend, fah-bulous!" Don't believe me? Yeah, I don't either." width="504" /></a><br />
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Hmm, this is getting interesting. <br />
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<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-D2eAmi42YhY/VKO_A4g9eiI/AAAAAAAAFjk/zj7MIbc5iIc/s1600-h/Okinawa-0403.jpg"><img align="left" alt="Okinawa 040" border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-2bcqyeqjedc/VKO_BuBACMI/AAAAAAAAFjs/fLTzgoHkrZ4/Okinawa-040_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" height="350" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; float: left; margin: 0px 10px 0px 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Yeah, tempura, JAPANESE tempura, the real deal, not the Taiwanese "tianbula" stuff, which I still haven't figured out what the hell it is." width="504" /></a><br />
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As night fell I was getting hungrier, and I vowed to finally eat some Japanese food. I spotted this restaurant, and from the photos I knew they served tempura, my favorite! <br />
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<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-zVfCzkdU4Eg/VKO_Cb9r4_I/AAAAAAAAFj0/35RRpbJBlE4/s1600-h/Okinawa-0413.jpg"><img align="left" alt="Okinawa 041" border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-Zg-2QLaKb4M/VKO_DOfEJyI/AAAAAAAAFj8/SwC0n3cN7tg/Okinawa-041_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" height="285" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; float: left; margin: 0px 10px 0px 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="When I was new to Taiwan, I once thought I was entering a food establishment, when it was in fact a funeral gathering. So I'm still gun shy about blindly entering what appears to be a restaurant." width="504" /></a><br />
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The fact that it was 7pm on a Saturday night, yet the place was empty, did concern me. The cook looks like he's in a vending machine, right? <br />
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<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-g1KV76ZZNMo/VKO_D-up4LI/AAAAAAAAFkE/l5WEkGf0OdQ/s1600-h/Okinawa-0423.jpg"><img alt="Okinawa 042" border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-7wM3Abj4Rgg/VKO_EkOCf0I/AAAAAAAAFkM/kuxjT5NjC7Y/Okinawa-042_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" height="504" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="It's all in Japanese, and while there ARE pictures of the dishes offered, the photos are tiny and it's difficult to recognize what food you'll actually end up eating. This difficulty is offset by the fact that there's no tipping!" width="377" /></a> <br />
Speaking of vending machines...hmmm. Fortunately, somewhere in the dark recesses of my memory, I recalled from my long-ago Japanese class that restaurants in Japan often use vending machines. You first insert your money, make your menu choices, then give the ticket it issues to the cook. No need for waiters or money handling. <br />
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<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-ce920qQBl00/VKO_FWcORqI/AAAAAAAAFkU/yZl8QaWtqKM/s1600-h/Okinawa-0433.jpg"><img align="left" alt="Okinawa 043" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFlRgkaOXWyFZs3Aq4GqZ6jr_xrkXZchRBjjeYeaIHzLCU7BKgQxqSHutZI2nSOAGT2KlNcxAoUc_GD7HTdMjuC9pInboW77PIC_dUb2i-5PdIFimLnzow7iep4A9yhW2SAwvB0hdScxTm/?imgmax=800" height="293" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; float: left; margin: 0px 10px 0px 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="I thought I would get a dish or two of vegetables as well. I thought I had seen vegetables in the vending machine photo, but maybe I had to order those separately? Ah, the adventure of eating in a country when you don't know what the hell you're doing." width="504" /></a><br />
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As it turned out, the food was light, fresh, and delicious! Clockwise from the tempura: White radish paste; dipping sauce; miso soup; white rice; tea; a bowl of rice, wasabi, and some vegetable things I couldn't recognize, over which was poured some liquid (tea? broth?) from that teapot. It was quite tasty, whatever it was. <br />
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<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-J2Jsyh-jMXk/VKO_G2YHWII/AAAAAAAAFkk/i_o4ByoYGew/s1600-h/Okinawa-0443.jpg"><img align="left" alt="Okinawa 044" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibnzRawHFDIMalD44x8d2vODBD_ZgBdK-KmI-w5xONtZmssU_FgBWF-DYAjqAYObNVvUnWxWgJwHi4KBl4xHybH4OZDBb9W_5g44-ZYSIug3G08DJ9WxfunTSsut4RIJ9sdt-7eoh6gU6F/?imgmax=800" height="285" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; float: left; margin: 0px 10px 0px 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="In the fridge is a tall can of "Dabaru sutorongu gurēpufuruutsu bīru" (9% alcohol) that I'd picked up at Family Mart. It's Japanese-English...try to sound it out. Go ahead, I'll wait. OK, if you want to cheat, it's "Double strong grapefruit beer"." width="504" /></a><br />
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It's been a full day of fun, but it's time to head back to the hotel and get some sleep. <br />
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Wait, what's this in the desk drawer.... <br />
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<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-32MphzGwliE/VKO_IZEnaZI/AAAAAAAAFk0/ADksoX7xHaY/s1600-h/Okinawa-0453.jpg"><img align="left" alt="Okinawa 045" border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-QzvRNJ4RBv0/VKO_JPPqeGI/AAAAAAAAFk8/JerImK5mStk/Okinawa-045_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" height="285" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; float: left; margin: 0px 10px 0px 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="As I mentioned before, the TV had only six channels, and none of them Adult. What's going on here? I mean, isn't this Japan, the land of awesome electronics and tentacle porn?" width="504" /></a><br />
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Hmmm, decisions...decisions. <br />
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<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-YYp72_Zqytk/VKO_J-ycFmI/AAAAAAAAFlE/4itZnkaOo-M/s1600-h/Okinawa-0463.jpg"><img alt="Okinawa 046" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmCXtt4il4G64Q2RsSbuaHa7JhK23R0pxcxiATYfJ1e-VRvApy8rTga640seODWimIUcX-0LyokoibobCKuiDO2KCUiFMIKNlnJgdZWoOyiU42ohsmGRpVm2F0tETjCpWX-X-MHQLtIKvw/?imgmax=800" height="484" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="OK, I'll admit, mushrooms & cheese, and even steak & berries, wouldn't be bad. I just can't get over that awful name." width="299" /></a><br />
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It's a new day (Sunday) and time for breakfast. I briefly thought about Burger King—love those breakfast croissant sandwiches—but the BK in Naha doesn't serve breakfast items (??). Also, they were promoting the Berry Kristmush monstrosity above, from which I fled in terror. <br />
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<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-gy9nsVWn_oM/VKO_LaMFwNI/AAAAAAAAFlU/dTwR4JFkzRs/s1600-h/Okinawa-0473.jpg"><img align="left" alt="Okinawa 047" border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-uMPue0PQWXs/VKO_MTnoblI/AAAAAAAAFlc/NcK4JqmWjQ0/Okinawa-047_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" height="285" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; float: left; margin: 0px 10px 0px 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="I'm still amazed that we were able to complete this entire transaction solely by body language, as he spoke zero English, and my Japanese consisted of continually using Chinese by mistake with the guy. My brain seems to have only space for two languages, English and "foreign", which right now is occupied by Chinese." width="504" /></a><br />
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So the plan for the morning was to take the monorail to Shuri Castle—which was recommended to me by a soldier I'd met on the airplane over—and search for geocaches in the nearby area. I found a bike rental shop not far from the rail station, and the proprietor was good enough to snap this photo of me, complete with his thumb. <br />
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<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-QwJ0OoPDn7A/VKO_NMA1f7I/AAAAAAAAFlk/V6TKh871sI4/s1600-h/Okinawa-047b3.jpg"><img alt="Okinawa 047b" border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-1Jr35sK_w5c/VKO_N6_uwFI/AAAAAAAAFls/fI1r-3ZVnME/Okinawa-047b_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" height="484" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="My Taiwanese buds know how much I'm addicted to this stuff." width="274" /></a><br />
Gotta first stock up on hydration for my big day out. I was excited to find my beloved Japanese peach water, at the source! <br />
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<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-LflkgQ_p2zA/VKO_O0QKa_I/AAAAAAAAFl0/ws-WbLcVPWM/s1600-h/Okinawa-0483.jpg"><img align="left" alt="Okinawa 048" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhebDPkJq2v7jYKwMXaUeEOyxrwi4PCqop_5C3CSPMNHMUpbknq9E6xqgM3Vqee7v4FixOueYIw27gzjbcdjbHV85P-TsDeTxI2W7v6hlJ0nnAMaOLhoKr9nWKb-c3Hvoga1xwsMbVqqS1t/?imgmax=800" height="285" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; float: left; margin: 0px 10px 0px 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="I DID say a quick prayer to the gods to help me in my search, as I whizzed by on my bike. Hey, I can be religious when I want to." width="504" /></a><br />
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A small temple on the way to the first cache. Let's see, should I stop and soak up the local culture, or take a quick photo then continue on to the geocache?<br />
I think you already know the answer. <br />
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<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-2l72ktvOEas/VKO_QkO3fRI/AAAAAAAAFmE/Rg0zhxyOIgg/s1600-h/Okinawa-0503.jpg"><img align="left" alt="Okinawa 050" border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-2zFuWIghpjM/VKO_ReyIGnI/AAAAAAAAFmM/pgAMDy5Mr0Y/Okinawa-050_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" height="285" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; float: left; margin: 0px 10px 0px 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="I really wish I could have seen INSIDE one of these places. I mean, more than just peeking in the windows. Uh, which I totally did not do." width="504" /></a><br />
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I was riding around some nice upscale neighborhoods... <br />
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<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-f0-wDBD0dls/VKO_SGh9enI/AAAAAAAAFmU/d2WD74cCjQA/s1600-h/Okinawa%252520053%252520Ranfan%252520%252528%2525C3%2525A9%2525C3%2525B3%2525C3%252595%2525C2%2525A1%2525C3%2525B3%252509%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="Okinawa 053 Ranfan (ランファン)" border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-mYkDtK-NMBI/VKO_S6lzOII/AAAAAAAAFmc/xiw7vlc2doI/Okinawa%252520053%252520Ranfan%252520%252528%2525C3%2525A9%2525C3%2525B3%2525C3%252595%2525C2%2525A1%2525C3%2525B3%252509_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" height="504" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="I know, all of this geocaching talk sounds pretty nerdy, but I really enjoy it. Kind of like when my son talks to me about Magic: The Gathering. I have no idea what's going on, but I'm happy if he's happy." width="285" /></a><br />
Find #6 in Japan, <span style="font-weight: normal;"><a href="http://www.geocaching.com/geocache/GC4VKX7_ranfan?guid=1a7037e9-d28a-42cc-97bc-73863973c595" target="_blank">Ranfan (ランファン)</a>. This is the first time I've ever grabbed a trackable (<a href="http://www.geocaching.com/track/details.aspx?id=4715718" target="_blank">5montreals FTF Talledega Nights</a>), which I'll drop off back in Taiwan. </span> <br />
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<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-kMfo3X4Sazw/VKO_Tpo7tMI/AAAAAAAAFmk/wjzsFVuNV2g/s1600-h/Okinawa%252520054%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="Okinawa 054" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-ETpRRl-AFFk/VKO_Ufy6ieI/AAAAAAAAFms/4aUev9E7RL4/Okinawa%252520054_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" height="504" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="I paid almost twice the rate for this rental bike than I would have for one at the place I found the day before. However, this bicycle had a battery operated power assist, which made going up these hills a breeze." width="285" /></a><br />
This area was quite steep, with some very interesting narrow back streets and paths. It was a challenge to navigate sometimes. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFeeOzL9Q7lws9iEmrW_AjPKjukmo4YXOHghjPD1xV5FPlpXwUSYyRPE8WJ_DwJ5uzxpYO1HdRZGTQ9W0KxhlHtbSJ69eDHhAz1RXI0yisUfsuCStHEQyD7RNcnSC838M8ZHmMMrbDEmxW/s1600-h/Okinawa%252520055%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img align="left" alt="Okinawa 055" border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-IR2gGfXZB5w/VKO_V6MTd4I/AAAAAAAAFm8/F5H_AZ0nzUI/Okinawa%252520055_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" height="285" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; float: left; margin: 0px 10px 0px 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="You gotta click and enlarge this one...it's amazing." width="504" /></a><br />
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The next cache was located at a park high atop a hill with this magnificent view... <br />
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<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-H3KY_vGd0Vs/VKO_WoaMdfI/AAAAAAAAFnE/bzN11UMaBHI/s1600-h/Image.jpg"><img alt="Okinawa 056 Krillin (クリリン)" border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-f3a46bucSUI/VKO_XZz4gPI/AAAAAAAAFnM/cP0sNOqVJgs/Image.jpg?imgmax=800" height="484" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Probably old lovers as well!" width="274" /></a><br />
...and obviously popular with young lovers. <br />
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<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-1tQw0mpcJ14/VKO_YJtZEsI/AAAAAAAAFnU/qE3EdGZ17Gc/s1600-h/Image.jpg"><img align="left" alt="Okinawa 057 Krillin (クリリン)" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-nLugmzo72wo/VKO_Y3xwwxI/AAAAAAAAFnc/vYOU6hN3qvw/Image.jpg?imgmax=800" height="156" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; float: left; margin: 0px 10px 0px 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="I brought along a bag with 40 mahjong tiles to leave as swag. Yeah, I had high hopes." width="504" /></a><br />
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This was my seventh find in Okinawa, so I left the 7-dot mahjong tile on the left as swag, for a future finder to take if they want. <br />
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<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-uIksDHmlCqc/VKO_ZrdMb5I/AAAAAAAAFnk/NILqMDWcK5A/s1600-h/Okinawa%252520058%252520Monster%252520Carrot%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="Okinawa 058 Monster Carrot" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-MeRTKd7eQSE/VKO_aYJSv3I/AAAAAAAAFns/HECyd6qrq74/Okinawa%252520058%252520Monster%252520Carrot_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" height="504" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="I'd passed by this road a couple of times, trying to find out how to get to the GZ, before I realized this was the way." width="407" /></a><br />
This next location was one of my favorites. To access it, you first had to find this tiny back road... <br />
<br />
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<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-iQijsvIpvto/VKO_bHSrLpI/AAAAAAAAFn0/3zooMjLfNJM/s1600-h/Okinawa%252520059%252520Monster%252520Carrot%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="Okinawa 059 Monster Carrot" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-B7tBx1S1cQ8/VKO_bwsMdmI/AAAAAAAAFn8/nszSWuFnJ0o/Okinawa%252520059%252520Monster%252520Carrot_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" height="504" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="He reminded me of a puppy version of the dog we had while my kids were growing up." width="285" /></a><br />
...on the way down, stop to pet the friendly pooch... <br />
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<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-DMWktP3lt-A/VKO_dV6WoUI/AAAAAAAAFoE/ngGwcGwEZ1Y/s1600-h/Okinawa%252520060%252520Monster%252520Carrot%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img align="left" alt="Okinawa 060 Monster Carrot" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-T16xS14lWNg/VKO_eKzXe1I/AAAAAAAAFoM/eUJu3QZ-0cA/Okinawa%252520060%252520Monster%252520Carrot_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" height="285" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; float: left; margin: 0px 10px 0px 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="It really felt Hobbitish, if that's a word." width="504" /></a><br />
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...and across a small bridge to this strange and wonderful place below street level. <br />
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<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-bCjMOWa1l0g/VKO_fOn7l4I/AAAAAAAAFoU/pjaHK1mzRVQ/s1600-h/Okinawa%252520061%252520Monster%252520Carrot%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img align="left" alt="Okinawa 061 Monster Carrot" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1LbVwra3qezyq72d2eVUCEXKZZCFaN-Po6nlZo7f0J1ZhaK2FVvIQgPRBnn8QivJ7p0DRhU_ihRJ0FF8nQn0ao6BoNCq2O9hgnMTMnDApK0E6xezYvVNMIgFgK6Bj143f95qnzcH7po_w/?imgmax=800" height="285" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; float: left; margin: 0px 10px 0px 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="I wonder how long this place can withstand the storms and typhoons that Japan experiences. " width="504" /></a><br />
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And here is GZ. Amazingly beautiful. If I didn't do geocaching, I'd probably never have seen this place. <br />
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<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-7wS8BAZtpXY/VKO_gmDwwRI/AAAAAAAAFok/cOZ1UsyGVeU/s1600-h/Okinawa%252520062%252520Monster%252520Carrot%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="Okinawa 062 Monster Carrot" border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-vJ-sm-zcP4o/VKO_hpCKTPI/AAAAAAAAFos/B17D70gGnYM/Okinawa%252520062%252520Monster%252520Carrot_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" height="484" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="The name of this cache is Monster Carrot. Make of it what you will." width="274" /></a><br />
An example of what you might find in the cache container. This is actually a clue for a larger puzzle. Find #8 in Okinawa (<a href="http://www.geocaching.com/geocache/GC4P0MM_monster-carrot?guid=498943c3-0f6d-4bfe-b38b-e5c4471fb426" target="_blank">GC4P0MM</a>). <br />
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<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-NebtQoKUQSE/VKO_iHLGd7I/AAAAAAAAFo0/oO6LaKMXXQY/s1600-h/Okinawa%252520065%252520Wana%252520Ridge%252520Trails%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="Okinawa 065 Wana Ridge Trails" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-jo9Mj3MIIvI/VKO_jBaHsaI/AAAAAAAAFo8/0DeTP3Xd9I8/Okinawa%252520065%252520Wana%252520Ridge%252520Trails_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" height="484" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Most geocoins are from special events, which the owner has participated in and therby earned the coin, then passes the coin along to travel the world. This one started in Holland and was not inteneded to leave the country. Somehow the coin was lost for a time, but eventualy turned up halfway around the world. The owner is thrilled about this and excitedly watches it travel the globe." width="274" /></a><br />
Find #9 contained a Geocoin, which I took to place in Taiwan. I would probably never have found this one without the help of a hint photo supplied by a previous geocacher. <a href="http://www.geocaching.com/geocache/GC26N96_wana-ridge-trails?guid=0b8b78d2-541f-4e4a-8969-61321798020b" target="_blank">Wana Ridge Trails (GC26N96)</a> <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5luko4Q8rPY3W4weyN9JrH9H2r4sPHdKFphEc81WFsFmkGfp99OVolHAAcP-YL26SZ0iEPf5oUNCaZCBhGDCSnC_H0LM5-dQyPG3uVuaJy8d84u54-1i1Kjto86hPm0njBIN__RxoGsbi/s1600-h/Okinawa%252520067%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img align="left" alt="Okinawa 067" border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-z1nNaZwEeCU/VKO_ksXWApI/AAAAAAAAFpM/Q0zMRbvQuOU/Okinawa%252520067_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" height="285" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; float: left; margin: 0px 10px 0px 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="You don't realize how much you'll miss things like Dr. Pepper, sour cream, and corn tortillas, until you move to a country where finding them can be as difficult as, well, finding some geocaches. Yeah, I know, I'm obsessed." width="504" /></a><br />
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All of this bike riding has gotten me thirsty. Care for a <em>tall</em> Dr. Pepper? <br />
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<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-P3jfdFDqhzw/VKO_lrcPHPI/AAAAAAAAFpU/fgOpUOaRws0/s1600-h/Okinawa%252520068%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img align="left" alt="Okinawa 068" border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-FRzYxzJwNAM/VKO_mYJNIAI/AAAAAAAAFpc/Dwjaxfyv_uU/Okinawa%252520068_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" height="314" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; float: left; margin: 0px 10px 0px 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="And yes, there WILL be a next time!" width="504" /></a><br />
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Well, I never did make it to Shuri Castle. This is as close as I got, one of the gates in the surrounding wall. Oh well, next time. <br />
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<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-AEu9JEdoEbY/VKO_nPFFXDI/AAAAAAAAFpk/czBikM77k6M/s1600-h/Okinawa%252520069%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img align="left" alt="Okinawa 069" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-zThhi1V0ojc/VKO_n-X8YNI/AAAAAAAAFps/a6uwwcpT1Ew/Okinawa%252520069_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" height="285" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; float: left; margin: 0px 10px 0px 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Recommended by both the Jetsons and Shirley MacLaine." width="504" /></a><br />
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My bike rental time was coming to an end, so I snapped some photos of some interesting signs along the way back to the shop...<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9t2O3w3wrvQvIjsuL8zR0DRsF5eOiWZ_YhoxpUOnZBtWuwuBykRLziAeP9mzk7uMta-RJczocr46nT_stJJYmbb3fyClGaJbBjh4_35Hho6NeibMqs8xs-RwWJ9Urcs8JoRgs67xEmAGH/s1600-h/Okinawa%252520070%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img align="left" alt="Okinawa 070" border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-2VU3VuufxnI/VKO_pQVc3qI/AAAAAAAAFp8/LftS7Y-LiI4/Okinawa%252520070_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" height="285" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; float: left; margin: 0px 10px 0px 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="It says it's a "special education school." Ok, then." width="504" /></a> <br />
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Nope, it's not an egg store. <br />
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<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-R967LTwvf8o/VKO_qDQEPSI/AAAAAAAAFqE/pUpCMhwCATw/s1600-h/Okinawa%252520070a%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="Okinawa 070a" border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-beBZ_XohhRk/VKO_rbtUz-I/AAAAAAAAFqM/neBRjOTYgLE/Okinawa%252520070a_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" height="504" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Anyone got some Doritos? Cookies? Popcorn? Anything?" width="346" /></a>Geocaching is <em>my</em> high. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-WdrpFwF6jWs/VKO_scoaKcI/AAAAAAAAFqU/-K_YV1Yhti4/s1600-h/Okinawa%252520071%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img align="left" alt="Okinawa 071" border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-bEkIqlOM6Ls/VKO_tKQhMVI/AAAAAAAAFqc/TwRnRT2oW6w/Okinawa%252520071_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" height="475" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; float: left; margin: 0px 10px 0px 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="The only words I can read are "Internet" and "Let's start". I'm not sure I WANT to know any more." width="504" /></a><br />
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You know how they say, after many years together couples start <br />
to look like each other... <br />
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<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-i5SuBgDyGao/VKO_ushmUjI/AAAAAAAAFqk/SI39iYM9n7A/s1600-h/Okinawa%252520072%252520kokusai%252520dori%252520shopping%252520arcade%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img align="left" alt="Okinawa 072 kokusai dori shopping arcade" border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-kGr5Qq2lHZI/VKO_vtu3XBI/AAAAAAAAFqs/miRCjVO0Y0g/Okinawa%252520072%252520kokusai%252520dori%252520shopping%252520arcade_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" height="338" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; float: left; margin: 0px 10px 0px 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title=""Kimono shop? Go down two streets, turn right, go up the back alley, turn left at the fishmonger, go straight until you see the good luck cat, then ask the shopkeeper with the hairy mole to tell you new location." All of this in Japanese, of course." width="504" /></a><br />
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The next cache brought me to Kokusai Dori, a giant market arcade. There were small streets running every which way, with vendors packed into every tiny corner. Most of it was covered, which caused my GPS to freak out and made finding the GZ all the more difficult. <br />
<br />
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<br />
<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-fjpoIg8blPM/VKO_wXzcBgI/AAAAAAAAFq0/QmBBkESEmuo/s1600-h/Okinawa%252520073%252520kokusai%252520dori%252520shopping%252520arcade%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img align="left" alt="Okinawa 073 kokusai dori shopping arcade" border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-pQ2OWl7Ay6s/VKO_xPJlP3I/AAAAAAAAFq8/Kp8EFf_kgTE/Okinawa%252520073%252520kokusai%252520dori%252520shopping%252520arcade_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" height="285" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; float: left; margin: 0px 10px 0px 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="The aisles were narrow, and made even narrower by all the boxes of product that needed to be shelved, plus the workers and customers who where inside. It was quite a challenge, but at least I wasn't conspicuous as I could just prentend I was shopping." width="504" /></a> <br />
I finally determined that the GZ was this market, inside.... <br />
<hr />
<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-Y5FbwtokYtk/VKO_x6DfaEI/AAAAAAAAFrE/MFuBviWsnq8/s1600-h/Okinawa%252520074%252520Makishi%252520Market%252520Place%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img align="left" alt="Okinawa 074 Makishi Market Place" border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-CByOQx4_0n0/VKO_y6TBfFI/AAAAAAAAFrM/wCZdHFjt5I8/Okinawa%252520074%252520Makishi%252520Market%252520Place_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" height="285" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; float: left; margin: 0px 10px 0px 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="A glass jar behind the yellow boxes on the right." width="504" /></a><br />
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Can you spot the cache? <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ0c4LHYi4SLQAW_nAlCV56d_k64Akai-07Lw-84vdzmdhLAWpegeUjBpoCyiTxJQMRkBFf8Kkyt0-EU0nHqSQgmAfcK316Vt13mtgzIeafbWlRV8_9eqVhJvlVYcfFbUo-l2mTWqRjlr3/s1600-h/Okinawa%252520075%252520Makishi%252520Market%252520Place%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="Okinawa 075 Makishi Market Place" border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-3_Olr9a7dQQ/VKO_0LSUACI/AAAAAAAAFrc/DtuKXw1XXu4/Okinawa%252520075%252520Makishi%252520Market%252520Place_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" height="484" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Many, many people have found this one. Fortunately, the staff knows what's going on and is willing to give hints in case you're having problems finding it." width="372" /></a><br />
This one, find #10, is called <a href="http://www.geocaching.com/geocache/GC287K3_makishi-market-place?guid=5fbf8abd-62b9-4cfe-8fbd-d85498335aae" target="_blank">Makishi Market Place (GC287K3).</a> <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUrJ7GCGmySXqEynJOTjs7SBoPivsNrQ5_OsQzK4CRzdkCW06_z0JMIERcu9HCThp7RCiVg920zcip8W-TJ1PPxhC0Oc6El764szCIm7ahf51qYwOv6oI7GxPFs0uB0siRujVdwcBASHrP/s1600-h/Okinawa%252520076%252520Makishi%252520Market%252520Place%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img align="left" alt="Okinawa 076 Makishi Market Place" border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-8Jxy-meOQnQ/VKO_1yUfdgI/AAAAAAAAFrs/_oLrrAF5lak/Okinawa%252520076%252520Makishi%252520Market%252520Place_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" height="285" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; float: left; margin: 0px 10px 0px 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Yeah, Okinawa taco rice is a thing. And not "tako" as in octopus. Honest-to-goodness Mexican, er Okinawan (?) tacos." width="504" /></a> <br />
Having a cache inside a store is a good idea, as it brings in business. I mean, after spending so much time in there, I felt guilty if I didn't buy something. <br />
<hr />
<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-wIt4MPpy0qg/VKO_2sVj7-I/AAAAAAAAFr0/RvzGHZQg3ns/s1600-h/Okinawa%252520077%252520The%252520Bear%252520Thief%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="Okinawa 077 The Bear Thief" border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-JPo4EvHX334/VKO_3fl4q1I/AAAAAAAAFr8/pjmP7Om-ZRk/Okinawa%252520077%252520The%252520Bear%252520Thief_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" height="504" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Even thought I was in Japan, which is considered pretty safe, I still felt nervous walking along back streets in the dark, then all alone at night in a park, trying to sign a paper in the rain by the light of my phone. But the thrill of the chase outweighs it all!" width="239" /></a><br />
By this time it was dark, and it was starting to sprinkle, so I thought I'd make it a day and go back to the hotel. However, something kept pushing at me, and I decided "just one more." So I walked along the back alleys of Naha to find a small park. The cache was in a tree, under a rock in the braches, and was a pretty easy find (<a href="http://www.geocaching.com/geocache/GC4P4DT_the-bear-thief?guid=8d0fde47-14a3-4e5f-acbf-b26c98e3f031" target="_blank">The Bear Thief GC4P4DT</a>), so I figured just one more shouldn't be difficult... <br />
<br />
<hr />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixYcHisZ9QWvA2m7O1yYHpXdL8PRGGxAp7HCqwlNcEBKvGji_55GGM-vjcUd6OBdDb6v1wc1AgUKW8BMRF-8mcrrVZgEB-kPsXGPHA-RB27lKKPVFLL0s4BIkDvaIsST5DVq7AKiBy35PO/s1600-h/Okinawa%252520078%252520tree%252520at%252520sogen-ji%252520park%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img align="left" alt="Okinawa 078 tree at sogen-ji park" border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-t8DTvt209is/VKO_5pRWZCI/AAAAAAAAFsM/p9681-la0I0/Okinawa%252520078%252520tree%252520at%252520sogen-ji%252520park_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" height="337" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; float: left; margin: 0px 10px 0px 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="I'm so glad the police didn't come and arrest this crazy foreigner climbing a tree by phonelight in the rain. But, I will be back someday, and I WILL find it." width="504" /></a><br />
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I was wrong. The cache is located somewhere "in the middle of the tree." Now, imagine trying to search through this monster, in the middle of the night, in the drizzle, with no lights. I was crawling and climbing all over that thing, using my phone as a light, trying desperately neither to fall nor drop my phone into the bottomless pit of those branches and roots. <br />
After about 25 minutes of searching I gave up. This was the only DNF (Did Not Find) of my entire trip, so I didn't feel so bad. The tree itself is absolutely amazing, and I feel great that I got to see it. <br />
<br />
<hr />
<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-KR_Cbj5m0cw/VKO_6The_eI/AAAAAAAAFsU/XS2YpQSjllE/s1600-h/Okinawa%252520079%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img align="left" alt="Okinawa 079" border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-v67kL69J1lU/VKO_7J_F1XI/AAAAAAAAFsc/rXQsh014z6g/Okinawa%252520079_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" height="285" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; float: left; margin: 0px 10px 0px 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="I actually didn't want a drink, but since it was a "bar" I felt obligated. I couldn't read the japanese, and I don't like beer, so I ordered the only thing I knew how to say in Japanese, "momo kokuteiru", peach cocktail. It was pretty good." width="504" /></a><br />
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So I returned to the area of my hotel and found a bar (lots of places in the area called "bar") and had a nice dinner of grilled beef and a peach cocktail. While sitting at the counter I noticed the napkin holder... <br />
<br />
<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-g_U1mRMAQH4/VKO_76DWcVI/AAAAAAAAFsk/9HBIZgGo03w/s1600-h/Okinawa%252520080%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img align="left" alt="Okinawa 080" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-zJMPOVaP4EI/VKO_8j3FqFI/AAAAAAAAFss/-GGLaB1-i4E/Okinawa%252520080_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" height="285" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; float: left; margin: 0px 10px 0px 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="This actually wasn't as embarrassing as the probably one hundred times I said "xie xie" (thank you), "dui" (right), and several other phrases, all Chinese, to various JAPANESE people. I guess my Chinese is more ingrained in my head than I thought." width="504" /></a> <br />
...had this strange thing with a clear plastic top. I thought it must be a salt shaker, or magnifying glass to read small print menus, or something. I tried to remove it but it wouldn't come off. The waiter came up to me to see if I needed anything, but I didn't so I waived him away. I continued playing with the thing, trying to figure it out, when the waiter came up to me again. <br />
It was then I realized that the thing was a button for calling the waiter. D'oh! <br />
<br />
<hr />
<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-Cw0QIl6bb_0/VKO_9bqShAI/AAAAAAAAFs0/RIxj2wvX-F4/s1600-h/Okinawa%252520083%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img align="left" alt="Okinawa 083" border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-R3U8zZilFTM/VKO_-IoVd8I/AAAAAAAAFs8/s1g_SSsFbAo/Okinawa%252520083_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" height="484" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; float: left; margin: 0px 10px 0px 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="This photo has nothing to do with the massage, but there was no way I WASN'T going to include it." width="274" /></a><br />
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For my final evening, I sprang for a treat and got an in-room aromatherapy massage. It was 40 minutes of pure relaxing bliss. Worth every yen! <br />
<br />
<hr />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsvr9WACt3GZ0phk46Gv9-Y-lsfsAXPJmbQQkGz4lDKrjwei84xdbNpO8bVXM13kzBbBm2szSWge9s_XOuYVBrgnxq4bbJKpOZVVMs4WYvjuWFElvCu9VADfY-LEjFdztI9nQ9RD1gcNm8/s1600-h/Okinawa%252520082%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img align="left" alt="Okinawa 082" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZUIGSUh82YbQ6uYdkCnF9z5TEVdgcZp8OsIcU3wAcTZ7g1LA_4nJP1snu6E6HLu8UQ9ntprA6RLWHd_rKi06kdymcW_-XF_PU2uo-rdqfYv-WvhYAW-8OQ7Hk-iQlp10OJDN6GnIWCV8M/?imgmax=800" height="285" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; float: left; margin: 0px 10px 0px 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Is this the picture of an American traveler or what?!" width="504" /></a><br />
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So my weekend trip to Okinawa came to a close. I found a total of 11 geocaches and got to see a new place, all with wonderful weather and no major problems. It was a great mini vacation, and I can't wait to return some day.<br />
Until then, there are plenty more geocaches to find!<br />
<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-LGo8WtE6aKM/VKPAAkqFgYI/AAAAAAAAFtU/Wm7hD4QFuTw/s1600-h/billion-dollar-technology%25255B4%25255D.png"><img align="left" alt="billion-dollar-technology" border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-1d9BcOxrjIc/VKPABWxhZkI/AAAAAAAAFtc/tNeNXfDwSIQ/billion-dollar-technology_thumb%25255B2%25255D.png?imgmax=800" height="370" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; float: left; margin: 0px 10px 0px 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="billion-dollar-technology" width="520" /></a>Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01563142738245530462noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3159873086866022417.post-78891987300688417442014-11-05T12:10:00.001+08:002014-11-05T12:10:36.741+08:00Rough day<p><font size="3">This past month has been full of emotional ups and downs.</font></p> <p><font size="3">Today is a down.</font></p> <p><font size="3">Now that all the family I grew up with is gone, I feel like that part of my life is gone as well, as if somehow it has expired or that it never even really existed. </font></p> <p><font size="3">My sister's death has affected me more than my mom or dad's. It wasn't supposed to be now, like this. We were supposed to become old and reminisce together about our growing up.</font></p> <p><font size="3">Every day that I think about it, I still can't believe she's gone, that she <em>chose</em> to be gone. It's like I'm in some kind of Matrix dream world. It's affecting my sleep, which doesn't help matters. </font></p> Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01563142738245530462noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3159873086866022417.post-88615961870847148572014-10-14T12:19:00.001+08:002014-10-14T12:24:40.350+08:00My sister's obituary<p dir="ltr">Today I finally felt ready to read Mari's obituary which was printed on the day before her funeral. I've reprinted it below.<br>
------------------<br>
<b>Mari Jayne Carter </b></p>
<p dir="ltr">On Friday, October 3rd 2014, Mari Jayne Carter's life ended unexpectedly and tragically at the age of 56. She grew up in Hermosa Beach, CA and spent most of her adult life in Redondo Beach, CA living in Ohio for several years in between. </p>
<p dir="ltr">At the time of her death, she was a stay at home mom, however, spent her career in administrative staff positions, specializing in bookkeeping. She spent a short time working in the city prosecutor's office in Ohio where she met her husband Darrell Carter 35 years ago. She was a woman of faith who was baptized as one of Jehovah's Witnesses in 1975. She loved animals and enjoyed all of Jehovah God's Creation. </p>
<p dir="ltr">She is preceded in death by her mother and step father, Deanna and Howard Coleman; step mother, Anita Sanchez; siblings, Phillip, Fred and Gilbert Sanchez. She is survived by her husband, Darrell Carter; father, Phillip Sanchez, siblings, Thomas and Jane Bilby, Raymond Sanchez, Stephan Coleman, Sammy and Julie AhSam; children, Amy and Donnie Krietermeyer, Jarrod, Darren, Rachel and Emma Carter; grandchildren, Brianna Drummond, Broc, Aspen, Deven, Kendall, McKenna and Tristen Krietermeyer; as well as many uncles, aunts, nephews, nieces and cousins. She will be greatly missed by her family and an enormous amount of friends. </p>
<p dir="ltr">The memorial service will be on Friday, October 10th, 6pm at The Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses, 2102 Aviation Way Redondo Beach, CA 90278. The gathering afterward will be announced at the service. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the family at <a href="http://www.gofundme.com/mimijay">www.gofundme.com/mimijay</a>. Please sign the guestbook at <a href="http://www.dailybreeze.com/obits">www.dailybreeze.com/obits</a>.</p>
<p dir="ltr"><i>Published in Daily Breeze on Oct. 9, 2014</i></p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl72QzPTzx1GLX6r2pOTPQ2g9cs5kzUQzPBGWwsp05WFRltGtMiRpAzhlB2BZHnZRGt2evoIdkaBa2kYblkl8SIr328H3Y2slIE2p6Dc88TsEdtobAX46ZfTLYEmGs1ZqiSPJZtFZuDYGU/s1600/0010581655-01-1_20141009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl72QzPTzx1GLX6r2pOTPQ2g9cs5kzUQzPBGWwsp05WFRltGtMiRpAzhlB2BZHnZRGt2evoIdkaBa2kYblkl8SIr328H3Y2slIE2p6Dc88TsEdtobAX46ZfTLYEmGs1ZqiSPJZtFZuDYGU/s640/0010581655-01-1_20141009.jpg"> </a> </div>Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01563142738245530462noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3159873086866022417.post-57264486990002315102014-10-04T22:43:00.001+08:002014-10-04T22:44:58.798+08:00Goodbye Mari Jayne<p><font size="3">Two hours ago I found out that my sister has died, completely unexpectedly, on October 3, 2014. She was 56 and has four children. I'm stunned beyond words. <br /> <br />I always thought of her when I heard this song, but I had no idea how fitting it was until this moment. <br /></font><font size="3"> <br />Mari, my big sister and protector, I love you.</font></p> <iframe height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/Hup6Am4byj4" frameborder="0" width="420" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01563142738245530462noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3159873086866022417.post-44244466995256006882014-09-25T12:23:00.001+08:002014-09-25T12:25:28.255+08:00I can't delete my mom's phone number from my phone<p><font size="3">This morning I went through my cell phone contact list, cleaning out the unused and duplicate numbers. </font></p> <p><font size="3">Then, Deanna Coleman. </font></p> <p><font size="3"><a href="http://steve4nlanguage.blogspot.com/2012/07/goodbye-mom.html" target="_blank">She's been gone for two years now.</a> In my brain I know there's is no practical reason to have her name and phone number anymore. </font></p> <p><font size="3">But emotions win. I just can't can't do it.</font></p> Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01563142738245530462noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3159873086866022417.post-72605837236807204922014-09-03T13:09:00.001+08:002014-09-03T13:24:59.338+08:00Government policies that make being a foreign resident in Taiwan incredibly frustrating<p>OK, so this is my second blog post in a row "complaining" about some aspect of Taiwan. And that's OK. Reading my previous posts should prove that I do love this country. The positives have outweighed the negatives so far. <br /> <br />However, I must repost this comment from <a href="http://www.forumosa.com">www.forumosa.com</a> because it expresses so well the frustration of living in, and contributing to, <strong>a country whose current policies will never let you forget that you can never truly "be one of us."</strong></p> <p>The original post was by a guy considering moving to Taiwan who had asked some questions about working and living here. The responses were generally truthful and balanced, so of course some negative aspects were presented.</p> <p>The original poster then commented: <br /></p> <blockquote> <p><em>I just feel as if Taiwan has given expats a pretty decent opportunity to come and teach English and be paid more than most local citizens but yet many posters still feel it necessary to put others and the country down. I don't doubt that many (if not all) of you are incredibly educated and gifted, but at the same time the same could be said of the many local Taiwanese population who aren't afforded the same opportunity. What do you want the country to provide you? I think it's given you what it can, given that the country is not very wealthy. But, of course, I am outsider looking in, so maybe I really don't know the whole story. I'm all ears if you guys have additional points to make.</em></p> </blockquote> <p><strong>The excellent response, which is assuredly eye-opening  for those who don't live in Taiwan, is below:</strong></p> <blockquote> <p><em>Ok. I rarely post here because I really don't like getting into arguments with people online, but you seriously have no idea what you are talking about, and I take great offense to the fact that you think foreigners have it so easy in Taiwan. <br /></em> <br /><em>Building a life in Taiwan is incredibly difficult if you don't have a Taiwanese spouse. Incredibly. </em></p> <p><em><u>Want a cell phone?</u> Sure, pay a foreigner deposit. Oh, you've lived in the country for a decade and have permanent residency here? Too bad, we still don't trust you and think you will run away without paying. </em></p> <p><em><u>Want a credit card?</u> Sorry, you have to have a Taiwanese cosigner. You make more than double the average annual wage, have worked at the same company for five years, can verify that you get paid regularly? Too bad, we still don't trust you. <br /></em></p> <p><em><u>Having your baby here?</u> Well, even though she'll be born in this country, she won't be eligible for NHI [National Health Insurance] until she's been here for 6 months. All other Taiwanese children are covered from birth, but your baby is different, even though you've been paying your NHI premiums for almost a decade, and you pay more than the average citizen because you make more money. But your baby doesn't have Chinese blood. <br /> <br /><u>Have a foreign spouse?</u> That's nice. You can add him/her to your APRC [Alien Permanent Resident Certificate], but your spouse can't work. He/She needs sponsorship from an employer. Forget about the fact that almost every other country in the world extends permanent residency to the spouse and children of permanent residents. This country provides for us so well that we don't need that, right? <br /> <br />Don't even get me started on the fact that <strong>my child could potentially spend her entire life here, after being born here, and won't be able to work after graduating from a Taiwanese university unless she gets work sponsorship.</strong> More fairness? <br /> <br /><u>Like to pay taxes?</u> Good. Because for the first six months of every year, you're going to be taxed as a non-resident at 18%. Yes, we know your ID says that you are a permanent resident, but you might leave the country before the 183 day mark, and we'd like to keep that money. It doesn't matter that you live here just as permanently as any Taiwanese citizen, you're different. <br /> <br /><u>Retirement?</u> Hope you're saving. You see, there's a pension system in Taiwan, but you're not allowed in it. We could live and work here for 50 years, and we'll never be a part of it. Places like Japan and Australia put all workers, even temporary ones, into the pension system, but not Taiwan. We're not really like regular people, so we don't need to be included in things, right? Right. <br /> <br /><strong>For the record, I have no problems with Taiwan or the people here. I have problems with the government's policies, and the way "foreigners" are allowed to be treated differently no matter how long they've lived here or what their residency status is. </strong></em></p> <p><em>To say that we're ungrateful is incredibly rude and unhelpful to what some of us are fighting for on a daily basis - equality. I understand why you might find posts related to dating and whatever offensive, but to take those comments and then twist it around to say that we are all so lucky to be given the chance to live here and shouldn't say anything bad about the place is extremely rude and insensitive. <br /> <br /><strong>T</strong></em><em><strong>here are just so many times you can hear that you can't have/do something because you're a "waiguoren" [foreigner] before you realize that no matter how long you live in this place, you'll always be an outsider.</strong> A Taiwanese child could be born in America and would be considered an American. An American child born in Taiwan will always be a "waiguoren" and that's the truth, and the problem. <br /></em></p> </blockquote> <blockquote> <p><em>So, yeah. People like to come here and complain about stuff. So what? Let them. That is what this site is for. They have to deal with tough stuff all day, every day. This is a place for them to vent. Life here can be harder for expats than most people realize.</em></p> </blockquote> <p> <br />The original post is here: <br /><a title="http://www.forumosa.com/taiwan/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=133480&start=30#p1629876" href="http://www.forumosa.com/taiwan/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=133480&start=30#p1629876">http://www.forumosa.com/taiwan/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=133480&start=30#p1629876</a></p> Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01563142738245530462noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3159873086866022417.post-18042350560417703062014-08-27T10:12:00.001+08:002014-08-27T10:12:23.255+08:00American-born Chinese<p><font size="3">In Taiwan, ABCs (American-born Chinese), CBCs (Canadian-born Chinese) and other-BCs have unique situations they must face here. It's a bit difficult to explain unless you've lived in Taiwan, but someone posted the following succinct explanation on <a href="http://www.forumosa.com/taiwan/viewtopic.php?f=21&t=133195&start=10#p1627326" target="_blank">Forumosa.com</a>:</font></p> <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="5" width="550" border="5"><tbody> <tr> <td valign="top" width="540"> <p><font size="2">ABC wants to teach English => <em>no way, he is not a foreigner! <br /></em></font></p> <p><font size="2">ABC can't speak Chinese => <em>what a traitor! / shameful Banana! / Americanized! <br /></em></font></p> <p><font size="2">ABC becomes a celebrity => <em>the pride of Taiwan! <br /></em></font></p> <p><font size="2">ABC misbehaves => <em>what a disgusting foreigner! foreigner foreigner !!</em></font></p> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01563142738245530462noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3159873086866022417.post-82250405148877591992014-05-21T16:42:00.001+08:002014-05-21T16:42:37.609+08:00Scooter around Taiwan part 1: Hualien to Tainan<div id="scid:5737277B-5D6D-4f48-ABFC-DD9C333F4C5D:80e9f4d0-42b4-402d-86ce-a5b9ed86cdf5" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent" style="float: none; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px"><div id="81c3b9a7-301a-4da2-93b6-8a1b3720931e" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; display: inline;"><div><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=etpTkdY34sA&feature=youtube_gdata_player" target="_new"><img src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-ezYGKA3SVHo/U3xm-3t0jzI/AAAAAAAAFYE/hOW654tj8Tk/video4107b5856e27%25255B4%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-style: none" galleryimg="no" onload="var downlevelDiv = document.getElementById('81c3b9a7-301a-4da2-93b6-8a1b3720931e'); downlevelDiv.innerHTML = "<div><object width=\"448\" height=\"252\"><param name=\"movie\" value=\"http://www.youtube.com/v/etpTkdY34sA?hl=en&hd=1\"><\/param><embed src=\"http://www.youtube.com/v/etpTkdY34sA?hl=en&hd=1\" type=\"application/x-shockwave-flash\" width=\"448\" height=\"252\"><\/embed><\/object><\/div>";" alt=""></a></div></div></div> Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01563142738245530462noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3159873086866022417.post-15147581012608138402014-04-19T17:01:00.000+08:002014-05-09T18:33:29.492+08:00"Six years in Taiwan" trip to Taidong<p><font size="3">I first stepped foot in Taiwan on April 15, 2008. </font></p> <p><font size="3">To celebrate my anniversary, I took a 3-day 2-night scooter trip along the east coast to Taidong (Taitung). This helped me prepare for my around-the-island tour coming up in two weeks.</font></p> <p><font size="3">The views along Highway 11 are breathtaking!</font></p> <p><font size="3"><em>Click on photos to see full size.</em></font></p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-lREyyXIVFSg/U2yetPhNqxI/AAAAAAAAFUM/O-wQy58RSg0/s1600-h/01taidong%2525206%252520year%252520anniv%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="01taidong 6 year anniv" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; display: block; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="01taidong 6 year anniv" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-Lq5cVLPW-QU/U2yet40SqvI/AAAAAAAAFUU/xTG1CgSK84g/01taidong%2525206%252520year%252520anniv_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="504" height="379" /></a></p> <div id="scid:8747F07C-CDE8-481f-B0DF-C6CFD074BF67:fe2202b2-7544-45ce-b770-c1777ee84e18" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent" style="float: none; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-SSrbJQXAj1c/U2yeuh6Vn7I/AAAAAAAAFOk/VJHaaPh2V04/02taidong%2525206%252520year%252520anniv-8x6.jpg?imgmax=800" title="Highway 11 sunflowers" rel="thumbnail"><img border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-XOlC2sB_NJI/U2yevcn9B4I/AAAAAAAAFOs/k5MUio9jnVY/02taidong%2525206%252520year%252520anniv%25255B9%25255D.png?imgmax=800" width="461" height="355" /></a></div> <div id="scid:8747F07C-CDE8-481f-B0DF-C6CFD074BF67:9afdafbf-7323-4979-8766-6c150fd30e17" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent" style="float: none; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-aOyUJanF7YE/U2yewAKvbYI/AAAAAAAAFO0/nDPKRkVLWR4/03taidong%2525206%252520year%252520anniv-8x6.jpg?imgmax=800" title="It's amazing how many tourists visit this shihti place" rel="thumbnail"><img border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-Ftif-pzNMbc/U2yeyfnhXTI/AAAAAAAAFO8/1uaQrBuMuKA/03taidong%2525206%252520year%252520anniv%25255B10%25255D.png?imgmax=800" width="457" height="471" /></a></div> <div id="scid:8747F07C-CDE8-481f-B0DF-C6CFD074BF67:f1e1836c-43ac-4605-956f-03778043bb8a" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent" style="float: none; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-sWRVTikfQGQ/U2yezL73CeI/AAAAAAAAFPE/7LjGCLn_2WY/04taidong%2525206%252520year%252520anniv-8x6.jpg?imgmax=800" title="Thankful to my friend for recommending Sanxiantai" rel="thumbnail"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg78AfYChWLp6RHvrkEaPjIfmTM5cmn3zGIUdhs0GWVSN9Ois3yNu2Frkjh6SUAzZG409RKZiR4ex6b-Ds3hDBYQZ-mwLx0v9m0aHJ6-Ril8PruO368TO16iKvvgzesvrc1y8iY3_6dabE8/?imgmax=800" width="427" height="405" /></a></div> <div id="scid:8747F07C-CDE8-481f-B0DF-C6CFD074BF67:3ea7cb4c-7984-4fdd-b617-ddf976cafc9f" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent" style="float: none; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-ku33P_8ihj0/U2ye0pJoBwI/AAAAAAAAFPU/8ujeB584bQo/05taidong%2525206%252520year%252520anniv-8x6%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" title="Sanxiantai Island and bridge from the road" rel="thumbnail"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKrlstD2mzovI_gTNBBBQRo5g2jZjx69JIX8cKrPVBLY_nG1FDfIcbEkREo1WOl1ggMw4v7uDsFLlZhzRjB5bopv7BRliTVa96Dyu396vbxUN0o9dPqy7TxWY_T9-hFJT3BPS_imU5xIQg/?imgmax=800" width="580" height="293" /></a></div> <div id="scid:8747F07C-CDE8-481f-B0DF-C6CFD074BF67:431c9cb7-9db3-4e0d-9ef6-838b66f6ea49" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent" style="float: none; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-rd_B7j806Gk/U2ye2OooCQI/AAAAAAAAFPk/k9jgkkD4mnI/06taidong%2525206%252520year%252520anniv-8x6%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" title="And closer up" rel="thumbnail"><img border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-XqMQoZcX3pM/U2ye2keVtyI/AAAAAAAAFPs/nGhamxG8y38/06taidong%2525206%252520year%252520anniv%25255B4%25255D.png?imgmax=800" width="444" height="321" /></a></div> <div id="scid:8747F07C-CDE8-481f-B0DF-C6CFD074BF67:a30057b7-73db-47cd-b020-a68446a801da" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent" style="float: none; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-c4DUZSQKDkE/U2ye3fI6FJI/AAAAAAAAFP0/Q4Y4xg_chk4/08taidong%2525206%252520year%252520anniv-8x6.jpg?imgmax=800" title="Another view of the unique bridge" rel="thumbnail"><img border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-895P3RrNNi8/U2ye4PS3UvI/AAAAAAAAFP8/jqadH4O26ec/08taidong%2525206%252520year%252520anniv%25255B2%25255D.png?imgmax=800" width="420" height="361" /></a></div> <div id="scid:8747F07C-CDE8-481f-B0DF-C6CFD074BF67:653ed1e4-c95f-42eb-b4b9-01e5189e00cf" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent" style="float: none; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-CePZYPgPmn8/U2ye49xsP4I/AAAAAAAAFQE/xnJfA1P7roY/09taidong%2525206%252520year%252520anniv-8x6.jpg?imgmax=800" title="Nearby coastal area" rel="thumbnail"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpASVsTsaGLDDHpXdk07NZ0hH-gg9Wj-xN_W9EAxUdQoQ1fLNs6pLXm96AFnBW9PrEkOK6SxwZ_VIMNGNSG-Z2BZYUVqZzRuuJMHZiShn_yR_OaQ3eC1yiG0MxUZWCaHIs-52rH2qgQ_dP/?imgmax=800" width="451" height="406" /></a></div> <div id="scid:8747F07C-CDE8-481f-B0DF-C6CFD074BF67:fb0a042e-2207-49cd-aff8-3ddc3f762a82" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent" style="float: none; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQqLM2bANOcfUpDAzvNBPxVkXJj_r8xBWIlm5mP1iLT2XN0PrR6MdFdHlw_VQ4pMPNobgQ-Jxh4xL3x0pFWp5Uv8PV9xTjJ7sK3TF4eh2WlBmcNyvW71iEmDK4ONW1fdUS-SO6B38mR370/?imgmax=800" title="Time to see what's on that island" rel="thumbnail"><img border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-UjneyviOzd8/U2ye7K9y_kI/AAAAAAAAFQc/k_i4bvFHH20/10taidong%2525206%252520year%252520anniv%25255B4%25255D.png?imgmax=800" width="433" height="384" /></a></div> <div id="scid:8747F07C-CDE8-481f-B0DF-C6CFD074BF67:0ad42016-b306-493c-950d-57bbdecdf4b8" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent" style="float: none; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-XeqWrdr9tjI/U2ye8CzCfHI/AAAAAAAAFQk/OP-bU1QC-lg/11taidong%2525206%252520year%252520anniv-8x6.jpg?imgmax=800" title="Pineapples..." rel="thumbnail"><img border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-MLyYT7OUOL0/U2ye9Ov0_hI/AAAAAAAAFQs/r5TrE6Zt2kg/11taidong%2525206%252520year%252520anniv%25255B4%25255D.png?imgmax=800" width="421" height="490" /></a></div> <div id="scid:8747F07C-CDE8-481f-B0DF-C6CFD074BF67:139c026f-2f5a-4092-9420-2fa91de31a29" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent" style="float: none; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-eoWZIZvQcXA/U2ye99pldeI/AAAAAAAAFQ0/2x1_VunuxtQ/12taidong%2525206%252520year%252520anniv-8x6.jpg?imgmax=800" title="...and caves. It really was a cool place, but I was so busy exploring that I didn't take many photos" rel="thumbnail"><img border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-WcRmeq0_Oqo/U2ye-h19yQI/AAAAAAAAFQ8/Q3v59mJsnVo/12taidong%2525206%252520year%252520anniv%25255B9%25255D.png?imgmax=800" width="380" height="592" /></a></div> <div id="scid:8747F07C-CDE8-481f-B0DF-C6CFD074BF67:ce733cca-1620-421a-a0c7-027b037073c8" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent" style="float: none; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-lXMbGIWwy2Y/U2ye_SB_GiI/AAAAAAAAFRE/hnM-VOg8Xz4/13taidong%2525206%252520year%252520anniv-8x6%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" title="" Take only pictures, leave only footprints"" rel="thumbnail"><img border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/--i04aaXefrw/U2yfAUEqndI/AAAAAAAAFRM/VgbLfFYv7rY/13taidong%2525206%252520year%252520anniv%25255B3%25255D.png?imgmax=800" width="439" height="380" /></a></div> <div id="scid:8747F07C-CDE8-481f-B0DF-C6CFD074BF67:18694220-eaab-4984-870f-e870970a44d0" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent" style="float: none; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-9-Rjj5kRLTg/U2yfCLV40rI/AAAAAAAAFRU/JqoYE6y1eQM/14taidong%2525206%252520year%252520anniv-8x6.jpg?imgmax=800" title="This bridge straddled the ocean..." rel="thumbnail"><img border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-bm2r2WALzZk/U2yuhPvFsmI/AAAAAAAAFUc/LxuGWEegdUw/14taidong%2525206%252520year%252520anniv%25255B11%25255D.png?imgmax=800" width="466" height="370" /></a></div> <div id="scid:8747F07C-CDE8-481f-B0DF-C6CFD074BF67:575a0b17-d1a6-4672-ac73-bdc59f8f5e11" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent" style="float: none; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-e3w3kb_Ia7g/U2yfDktH86I/AAAAAAAAFRk/9GqS7jD64QM/15taidong%2525206%252520year%252520anniv-8x6.jpg?imgmax=800" title="...and this water flowing from the mountains." rel="thumbnail"><img border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-0W6RWCXqJUg/U2yfEdJAgJI/AAAAAAAAFRs/hrd7lR-EVgM/15taidong%2525206%252520year%252520anniv%25255B19%25255D.png?imgmax=800" width="427" height="369" /></a></div> <div id="scid:8747F07C-CDE8-481f-B0DF-C6CFD074BF67:ffc42b5b-7ca0-41e8-b92a-7881d3b71624" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent" style="float: none; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-0WOpIAY8ZpM/U2yfFAW-uEI/AAAAAAAAFR0/TBdI7RNgCSk/16taidong%2525206%252520year%252520anniv-8x6.jpg?imgmax=800" title="Although I was on a budget, these acommodations were a bit too " rustic" for me" rel="thumbnail"><img border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-DuIAurNWzRo/U2yfGJrtAuI/AAAAAAAAFR8/jpb9NejZyhs/16taidong%2525206%252520year%252520anniv%25255B3%25255D.png?imgmax=800" width="457" height="467" /></a></div> <div id="scid:8747F07C-CDE8-481f-B0DF-C6CFD074BF67:ac8fa795-835b-4f1c-93a5-bf5c0a9caa46" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent" style="float: none; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-UJvithS2ELc/U2yfG-5aYxI/AAAAAAAAFSE/yBt9vOLP_ko/17taidong%2525206%252520year%252520anniv-8x6.jpg?imgmax=800" title="Coastal rice fields" rel="thumbnail"><img border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-TDH0pwSrPHw/U2yfHnuo2lI/AAAAAAAAFSM/RxkssN6Opdw/17taidong%2525206%252520year%252520anniv%25255B2%25255D.png?imgmax=800" width="451" height="406" /></a></div> <div id="scid:8747F07C-CDE8-481f-B0DF-C6CFD074BF67:894aa649-5b74-4e65-8d14-95d885231bc1" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent" style="float: none; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-UVUADqXoYMI/U2yfIRcljSI/AAAAAAAAFSU/lqwlC9i1rGE/19taidong%2525206%252520year%252520anniv-8x6.jpg?imgmax=800" title="While in Taidong I visited this park in nearby Zhiben (知本)" rel="thumbnail"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVO6eqvPQlDbIG551OROfyCPZ7fq1KnGgR5_UnsbK2nK-A57INQZR4Hsm-ZdTceT1KDS-39UtFjHCcbmJFVrf0TZTMLnPLU-J-SiblJkNb76xPpgE7sWQvxs1dZ85uqAA7sSwoNYAevKTi/?imgmax=800" width="426" height="311" /></a></div> <div id="scid:8747F07C-CDE8-481f-B0DF-C6CFD074BF67:169eb7f9-be27-4571-956e-a97539879c0c" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent" style="float: none; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-D9w1uo1n7fQ/U2yfJ8ghsmI/AAAAAAAAFSk/nnf3jwW33Fw/20taidong%2525206%252520year%252520anniv-8x6.jpg?imgmax=800" title="This park had " forest" in the name, and for good reason" rel="thumbnail"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFNw7RgIdrxMqHzDjRVpCA3hByy3IWZ_sgn7ZwAL7DcsgnGyl8bQoppMESotSvsSOjCmB1LudBrtYNfbblOkOgtZ58Lp5g_Uf1fx1ef7l3BpAp8w8mmTldsMuf8Im8lKQdBTT0Y_UWbqYZ/?imgmax=800" width="469" height="406" /></a></div> <div id="scid:8747F07C-CDE8-481f-B0DF-C6CFD074BF67:11cf830d-2fda-4974-aab3-fd8993096273" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent" style="float: none; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-yvXlLgbRdRY/U2yfOaHi1PI/AAAAAAAAFS0/IeGYA18HsME/21taidong%2525206%252520year%252520anniv-8x6.png?imgmax=800" title="Zhiben is a hot springs town, and this concept is evident even in the park" rel="thumbnail"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidW6vf6JNSh8gKN2dp-XLT7QrcE8aJiGJIQYBxcEkSY15ibDQgPWoUs3qZpL_YxLeBEUR5jP0rmIbMXXtNJhhenSWOhqQrpxsBU_Ro87NNmYnHKf9oYJrx76DMLtww9WisR2MkJwU_t29r/?imgmax=800" width="469" height="563" /></a></div> <div id="scid:8747F07C-CDE8-481f-B0DF-C6CFD074BF67:6b67bd19-661c-49fa-96fa-2f1487ef5a8f" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent" style="float: none; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaJhyObZcE81V8M95ZJ9SiLaiQzJDoWB8u_Ml06BAtU8uwL9IvUElp0XfkSDFyOuX4Aa8lTiCvIjErN67TX5EyNZDzr3dv-y57oSMf6QhJ1aUUTpc7UTyfUFLdo2j-nnawNjPEj5RHiYv6/?imgmax=800" title="" rel="thumbnail"><img border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-tzWTqn2eGjc/U2yfSLevBbI/AAAAAAAAFTM/uzZdGyHSVyE/22taidong%2525206%252520year%252520anniv%25255B1%25255D.png?imgmax=800" width="415" height="428" /></a></div> <div id="scid:8747F07C-CDE8-481f-B0DF-C6CFD074BF67:43decd92-8c65-4220-806b-6a14f13f7ef9" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent" style="float: none; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-nx6g0_sEJyw/U2yfTWknYQI/AAAAAAAAFTU/4zk8IP1XNt0/23taidong%2525206%252520year%252520anniv-8x6.jpg?imgmax=800" title="" rel="thumbnail"><img border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-_GjK06dA4OM/U2yuiqdJ8HI/AAAAAAAAFUk/4Hk04FRnxCc/23taidong%2525206%252520year%252520anniv%25255B7%25255D.png?imgmax=800" width="354" height="437" /></a></div> <br clear="all" /> <br clear="all" /> <h5><font style="font-weight: normal" color="#000000" size="3"><a href="http://taitung.forest.gov.tw/ct.asp?xItem=31242&CtNode=2380&mp=350">知本國家森林遊樂區 (Zhiben National Forest Recreation Area)</a></font><font size="3"><font style="font-weight: normal"></font></font> <br clear="all" /> <div id="scid:8747F07C-CDE8-481f-B0DF-C6CFD074BF67:4837b660-b61a-41e0-b07e-ce7ffee8c871" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent" style="float: none; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-8xvlwUn9yDQ/U2yfVqeFNfI/AAAAAAAAFTk/EtQlsuZArII/24taidong%2525206%252520year%252520anniv-8x6.jpg?imgmax=800" title="I located and soaked in the only Japanese-style (naked) hot spring in town." rel="thumbnail"><img border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-7TZ7BTt_Q9A/U2yfW6_CufI/AAAAAAAAFTs/pr1cUDTe05w/24taidong%2525206%252520year%252520anniv%25255B19%25255D.png?imgmax=800" width="420" height="361" /></a></div> </h5> <p><font size="3">Of course, photos inside the hot spring are prohibited. However, I managed to slyly snap a shot. The bathers are not wearing clothes in the photo, so I am only posting </font><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-32uyrJEVcwg/U2yfXrASmKI/AAAAAAAAFT0/gzbKYnDQ7Ss/s1600-h/25taidong%2525206%252520year%252520anniv%25255B7%25255D.jpg" target="_blank"><font size="3">a link here if you want to see</font></a><font size="3"> (faces have been altered to maintain anonymity).</font></p> <div id="scid:8747F07C-CDE8-481f-B0DF-C6CFD074BF67:f1a1a986-d98d-4a3e-b923-8a25533a08cd" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent" style="float: none; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-SdWoYgM-S0M/U2yujgms8aI/AAAAAAAAFUs/uvNU2M6I1aY/26taidong%2525206%252520year%252520anniv-8x6.jpg?imgmax=800" title="After the relaxing soak I made my way to the 民宿 (B&B) I would be staying at." rel="thumbnail"><img border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-5jQhnQZkwiI/U2yuk3VpLoI/AAAAAAAAFU0/EsLKuE8x2Uw/26taidong%2525206%252520year%252520anniv%25255B9%25255D.png?imgmax=800" width="463" height="466" /></a></div> <div id="scid:8747F07C-CDE8-481f-B0DF-C6CFD074BF67:e19e6bac-947b-4bed-8913-5e8199f3db13" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent" style="float: none; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwROhyphenhyphenX7AujCsboaueGAMeZmPYyhQ2hwzam5w4xDPOlIT6irC03NIqIPPXs1HgHOfol_yZX3DpKY9zvXWsTTauaCBBMpPXe5Wnu_l1q1KTIURIfvC1il7X1uv4YuE4hyno2JmCU9o_i0V7/?imgmax=800" title="Japanese inspired comfort inside the B&B" rel="thumbnail"><img border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-dbSkJR4o0Mw/U2yumlq88DI/AAAAAAAAFVE/VwrGpTo0sbs/27taidong%2525206%252520year%252520anniv%25255B3%25255D.png?imgmax=800" width="420" height="397" /></a></div> <p><font size="3">The owners were super friendly! <br /><a href="http://finedays2013.blogspot.tw/" target="_blank">剛剛好生活民宿 (Gang Gang Hao Sheng Huo B&B)</a></font> </p> <div id="scid:8747F07C-CDE8-481f-B0DF-C6CFD074BF67:143df365-9ac0-4ccc-86d1-a37734534670" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent" style="float: none; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-yWRSXFAzASg/U2yunkffabI/AAAAAAAAFVM/y1tFmP4C5PA/28taidong%2525206%252520year%252520anniv-8x6.jpg?imgmax=800" title="" rel="thumbnail"><img border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-IOnCXdUrbLk/U2yuoxfSq6I/AAAAAAAAFVU/YhVen-Kef3o/28taidong%2525206%252520year%252520anniv%25255B7%25255D.png?imgmax=800" width="434" height="469" /></a></div> <p><font size="3">I recommend the soup dumplings and dry noodles at <br /></font><font size="3"><a href="http://march100.pixnet.net/blog/post/30310194" target="_blank">海草健康輕食館 (Seagrass Light & Healthy Restaurant)</a></font></p> <div id="scid:8747F07C-CDE8-481f-B0DF-C6CFD074BF67:f24ee870-1415-43c0-af48-8b15873b87e3" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent" style="float: none; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-DerrAPFIAAk/U2yup42LlWI/AAAAAAAAFVc/DH8d615JJhU/29taidong%2525206%252520year%252520anniv-8x6.jpg?imgmax=800" title="Who knew?" rel="thumbnail"><img border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-JIkL27f_rMM/U2yuq1Wd4SI/AAAAAAAAFVk/UGEWxWZw0Us/29taidong%2525206%252520year%252520anniv%25255B3%25255D.png?imgmax=800" width="446" height="406" /></a></div> <div id="scid:8747F07C-CDE8-481f-B0DF-C6CFD074BF67:22886447-f3e6-4c32-b8ec-c3683c36698d" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent" style="float: none; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-PhPCSr4rxdM/U2yurhxAg8I/AAAAAAAAFVs/T1Z7jhaC2-0/30taidong%2525206%252520year%252520anniv-8x6.jpg?imgmax=800" title="Leaving Taidong, I continued to marvel at the scenery" rel="thumbnail"><img border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-60CNwis2ywo/U2yus0Wi1oI/AAAAAAAAFV0/8t3bwKd5uUE/30taidong%2525206%252520year%252520anniv%25255B10%25255D.png?imgmax=800" width="580" height="332" /></a></div> <div id="scid:8747F07C-CDE8-481f-B0DF-C6CFD074BF67:bad33960-a9d7-4546-a2e2-305c7e495114" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent" style="float: none; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-uTIhrMZloTk/U2yut3L8_OI/AAAAAAAAFV8/X265FUoeP8E/31taidong%2525206%252520year%252520anniv-8x6.jpg?imgmax=800" title="I somehow always manage to find a secluded beach" rel="thumbnail"><img border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-BJvuz3eu3a0/U2yuvDBetkI/AAAAAAAAFWE/O3n2z13hGRM/31taidong%2525206%252520year%252520anniv%25255B6%25255D.png?imgmax=800" width="460" height="439" /></a></div> <div id="scid:8747F07C-CDE8-481f-B0DF-C6CFD074BF67:bfcd5919-d2a2-40ce-b3c8-fc743de1ceef" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent" style="float: none; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-ABFCciikl2w/U2yuwKMqa0I/AAAAAAAAFWM/JCOBlKY4dFo/32taidong%2525206%252520year%252520anniv-8x6.jpg?imgmax=800" title="Just down this path..." rel="thumbnail"><img border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-OT2yfO33SNs/U2yuxWGC8-I/AAAAAAAAFWU/N5fRS94FsUs/32taidong%2525206%252520year%252520anniv%25255B7%25255D.png?imgmax=800" width="371" height="486" /></a></div> <div id="scid:8747F07C-CDE8-481f-B0DF-C6CFD074BF67:0824cb4a-8cd3-4b2b-a009-8eb42967220e" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent" style="float: none; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-BBpf8NfDkeY/U2yuySlKkpI/AAAAAAAAFWc/7gSsaSYSVCM/33taidong%2525206%252520year%252520anniv-8x6.jpg?imgmax=800" title="...awaits my private paradise" rel="thumbnail"><img border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/--w2IICDKY1k/U2yuznSwYoI/AAAAAAAAFWk/l7Qg9en4cdY/33taidong%2525206%252520year%252520anniv%25255B2%25255D.png?imgmax=800" width="462" height="419" /></a></div> <div> </div> <div id="scid:8747F07C-CDE8-481f-B0DF-C6CFD074BF67:35064067-dc76-4fca-aac7-86028b477bda" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent" style="float: none; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-kIo71RMi14o/U2yu0ttB05I/AAAAAAAAFWs/lBD-e7Hqb0s/34taidong%2525206%252520year%252520anniv-8x6.jpg?imgmax=800" title="Delicious bread (and apple butter!) in Dulan (都蘭)" rel="thumbnail"><img border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-tEnrr2mOf1U/U2yu1xSrdtI/AAAAAAAAFW0/LFgk3gmKNkM/34taidong%2525206%252520year%252520anniv%25255B6%25255D.png?imgmax=800" width="401" height="554" /></a></div> <br clear="all" /> <br clear="all" /><font size="3"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/Marinos.Kitchen" target="_blank">Marino's Kitchen</a></font> <div id="scid:8747F07C-CDE8-481f-B0DF-C6CFD074BF67:3703f6c8-006d-482d-9f1f-acc888ed7c01" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent" style="float: none; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-wFUQfrfMPg4/U2yu26-IATI/AAAAAAAAFW8/bk895JU-0zc/35taidong%2525206%252520year%252520anniv-8x6.jpg?imgmax=800" title="Yep, this restaurant is called Dulan Crap" rel="thumbnail"><img border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-3dPgiYlUPNM/U2yu38iXbdI/AAAAAAAAFXE/D5d3VuFOdws/35taidong%2525206%252520year%252520anniv%25255B5%25255D.png?imgmax=800" width="427" height="405" /></a></div> <div id="scid:8747F07C-CDE8-481f-B0DF-C6CFD074BF67:e7faad28-9a18-49b2-b2f7-b4c9871956a1" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent" style="float: none; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-tCTP0BM9CuI/U2yu5CEudUI/AAAAAAAAFXM/3PzoKJC9jrQ/36taidong%2525206%252520year%252520anniv-8x6.jpg?imgmax=800" title="But their French cuisine and relaxed atmosphere is anything but crap" rel="thumbnail"><img border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-3qWLMTct1iM/U2yu6Taxx6I/AAAAAAAAFXU/MaZgybQ218I/36taidong%2525206%252520year%252520anniv%25255B3%25255D.png?imgmax=800" width="469" height="473" /></a></div> <div id="scid:8747F07C-CDE8-481f-B0DF-C6CFD074BF67:d957b660-bd0b-4eb6-a64e-2c162775980f" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent" style="float: none; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-Tn_EHFieHHI/U2yu7SoMynI/AAAAAAAAFXc/QovxrvufGWQ/37taidong%2525206%252520year%252520anniv-8x6.jpg?imgmax=800" title="Tables are old student desks, complete with cheater's notes" rel="thumbnail"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikfvP9fbXm9gLaHZLeFxRLQwtN0MKRmbSafDeDuWXkaWLOHCsJqEijI7SyaYGel_TvEEfyHSa0_DlzUQF4yT5rSHCMZ_cqd1S1uJ9KHAmM0g4-b0lTciRss7V5iVETcvsa7-x4PrY3TznC/?imgmax=800" width="442" height="357" /></a></div> <p><font size="3"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/Dulan.Crap" target="_blank">Dulan Crap</a></font></p> <div id="scid:8747F07C-CDE8-481f-B0DF-C6CFD074BF67:c5500383-2a9a-4dc1-9ca5-f76cf2f83e19" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent" style="float: none; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-O5nA4OLS3sQ/U2yu810wcLI/AAAAAAAAFXs/PeZxS9cRko4/38taidong%2525206%252520year%252520anniv-8x6.jpg?imgmax=800" title="The incredible tri-color ocean, a fitting finish to my trip to Taidong" rel="thumbnail"><img border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-YYdf7sEgTtY/U2yu97ehrrI/AAAAAAAAFX0/oxGN8wr8ZbA/38taidong%2525206%252520year%252520anniv%25255B12%25255D.png?imgmax=800" width="580" height="367" /></a></div> Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01563142738245530462noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3159873086866022417.post-68237669301244374752014-04-14T09:17:00.000+08:002014-05-09T09:17:46.572+08:00Taroko Gorge Hehuan Mountain (合歡山) on Scooter<div><font size="3">On a cloudy Monday, my friend and I took our scooters through Taroko Gorge and up to Hehuan Mountain. It was a long (8 hours total) but beautiful ride. <br clear="all" /> <br clear="all" /></font></div> <div><font size="3"></font></div> <div><font size="3"></font></div> <div><font size="3"><em></em></font></div> <div><font size="3"><em>Click on photos to see full size.</em></font> </div> <div> </div> <div><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-645saObI2yM/U2wrzsCjt9I/AAAAAAAAFJs/3mxjLcqfI20/s1600-h/20140414_1502053.jpg"><img title="20140414_150205" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; display: block; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="20140414_150205" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-q9PnHC-Fzz0/U2wr0WvFgZI/AAAAAAAAFJ0/OHd5nFxhiqY/20140414_150205_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="454" height="342" /></a> <br clear="all" /></div> <div id="scid:8747F07C-CDE8-481f-B0DF-C6CFD074BF67:6de14cbe-d3aa-4fce-a51b-e71872423181" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent" style="float: none; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-pIrJhQzJkHE/U2wr1OpuVQI/AAAAAAAAFJ8/nJ7vQ-88J-A/20140414_124024-8x6.jpg?imgmax=800" title="I love waterfalls" rel="thumbnail"><img border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-e9oRj2BidOY/U2wr2AobEyI/AAAAAAAAFKE/QN3B4sW-y8k/20140414_1240243.png?imgmax=800" width="356" height="475" /></a></div> <div> </div> <div id="scid:8747F07C-CDE8-481f-B0DF-C6CFD074BF67:7ba6601e-093c-4a97-935f-a4d56362f212" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent" style="float: none; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-9fkA5NtX-dw/U2wr2z3zP9I/AAAAAAAAFKM/nFV0DU3-L7M/20140414_125212-8x61.jpg?imgmax=800" title="The weather wasn't the best so we wanted to get above the clouds" rel="thumbnail"><img border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-FtsZJh9tYf4/U2wr3ulBk1I/AAAAAAAAFKU/nQvMFl9jInQ/20140414_125212%25255B2%25255D.png?imgmax=800" width="456" height="459" /></a></div> <div id="scid:8747F07C-CDE8-481f-B0DF-C6CFD074BF67:84d20765-b66a-47b7-bb87-31a48d2d4225" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent" style="float: none; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-BnsSG1_t0U4/U2wr4vs1TGI/AAAAAAAAFKc/1YF7_2r-6b8/20140414_125931-8x6.jpg?imgmax=800" title="Watch out for falling rocks!" rel="thumbnail"><img border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-_naYRF8gBCY/U2wr5i9uqeI/AAAAAAAAFKk/CEUhZYYCTxE/20140414_1259314.png?imgmax=800" width="420" height="416" /></a></div> <div id="scid:8747F07C-CDE8-481f-B0DF-C6CFD074BF67:46aabd84-5e18-496f-bdec-bca0a5c087cf" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent" style="float: none; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-WzXv8zffqlI/U2wr6fVk86I/AAAAAAAAFKs/zONw2Ziy-g8/20140414_130908-8x6.jpg?imgmax=800" title="By now we were in the clouds..." rel="thumbnail"><img border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-jQwW-EHamX4/U2wr7GDig9I/AAAAAAAAFK0/4TZkDwMUggQ/20140414_1309083.png?imgmax=800" width="454" height="433" /></a></div> <div id="scid:8747F07C-CDE8-481f-B0DF-C6CFD074BF67:b7d07556-51a0-4184-adf2-eb43623afffe" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent" style="float: none; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-x5pNU5RW0Zk/U2wr70LllrI/AAAAAAAAFK8/o9DW7bl52R8/20140414_130857-8x61.jpg?imgmax=800" title="...and eventually above the clouds" rel="thumbnail"><img border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-3slFVAa0XpM/U2wr88-igtI/AAAAAAAAFLE/gdlv0uJcZIE/20140414_1308576.png?imgmax=800" width="445" height="389" /></a></div> <div id="scid:8747F07C-CDE8-481f-B0DF-C6CFD074BF67:67a2341d-c443-4e3a-9c5a-439c906c2f18" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent" style="float: none; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-3-xSuab3sUM/U2wr9kbpiEI/AAAAAAAAFLM/riH8wpPuM3M/20140414_141944-8x6.jpg?imgmax=800" title="Bilv? Oh, Bilü" rel="thumbnail"><img border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-AqyYs1wLKWY/U2wr-fWU62I/AAAAAAAAFLU/SISBgVPR8Z4/20140414_14194429.png?imgmax=800" width="345" height="458" /></a></div> <div id="scid:8747F07C-CDE8-481f-B0DF-C6CFD074BF67:0aadc6da-3bd1-4279-92e4-019f9f563856" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent" style="float: none; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-VIUtXAzKrxA/U2wr_KSaqkI/AAAAAAAAFLc/1BOYLvQqu40/20140414_134405-8x6.jpg?imgmax=800" title="Lunch at a mountainside restaurant" rel="thumbnail"><img border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-14qegZ20LBA/U2wr_9awcbI/AAAAAAAAFLk/7-15VgpjesM/20140414_1344056.png?imgmax=800" width="466" height="446" /></a></div> <div id="scid:8747F07C-CDE8-481f-B0DF-C6CFD074BF67:a64855b1-83e1-4327-b58c-f4f269671aee" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent" style="float: none; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-ga-wegROWlA/U2wsAi2eMpI/AAAAAAAAFLs/IHaJS58_M2Q/20140414_133954-8x6.jpg?imgmax=800" title="Full bellies and ready to continue on" rel="thumbnail"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh60j7EHeyV_1vWYj5TY-zcgJHu4ZnX8ieqQGHuVPNNUF_IwF6TsJIhRNv6l4yhliUYT_BUoRjkLShesRK3fXX4Z-Ybd4n20UJgG_f82hyphenhyphenbCNeueTenzWpCwxw_yjp5FUEipjwGVt4OC1I1/?imgmax=800" width="472" height="452" /></a></div> <div id="scid:8747F07C-CDE8-481f-B0DF-C6CFD074BF67:fb953383-25f8-4859-8a83-5baa5f0206ea" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent" style="float: none; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-8VwmHOzBKiU/U2wsCRi-5II/AAAAAAAAFL8/usFJ6fiKx68/20140414_150026-8x6.jpg?imgmax=800" title="The higher we got, the sunnier (and colder) it got" rel="thumbnail"><img border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-Yi69aoqqwyI/U2wsDWcvlWI/AAAAAAAAFME/q8QMCelqOoE/20140414_150026.png?imgmax=800" width="367" height="534" /></a></div> <div id="scid:8747F07C-CDE8-481f-B0DF-C6CFD074BF67:137da162-bbbf-45cb-a358-681491762d90" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent" style="float: none; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXkxmwJ3VfwQ4tYBaqZ3QRbp2uP3D8yVPw0J9pCajzMSx5tmsHSVBGVRAZjIPj7HR1KiqwJCHdcGMizsI51z9J3i5zDK9MrpxoNYFmSpOR-uX4mAV1XkPDsTygsyAYmDoXBbYb06svzfqr/?imgmax=800" title="Beautiful" rel="thumbnail"><img border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-vBLIejA_3zw/U2wsEwhMfCI/AAAAAAAAFMU/VczAqhsGvtk/20140414_150154%25255B4%25255D.png?imgmax=800" width="482" height="353" /></a></div> <div id="scid:8747F07C-CDE8-481f-B0DF-C6CFD074BF67:22df1260-f1bb-4cce-b6f9-ff4bb926a07a" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent" style="float: none; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-ewXchZeJ54w/U2wsFbmtqCI/AAAAAAAAFMc/-8CfBfw_WYQ/20140414_150221-8x6.jpg?imgmax=800" title="Ryan promising me " We're almost there"" rel="thumbnail"><img border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-XOYJm3UeDa4/U2wsGS8tUhI/AAAAAAAAFMk/2U_s8XtMJTs/20140414_1502213.png?imgmax=800" width="440" height="398" /></a></div> <div id="scid:8747F07C-CDE8-481f-B0DF-C6CFD074BF67:e57c7f3e-8336-40f6-b942-fc849fa30758" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent" style="float: none; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-f-3wnFDjujU/U2wsG57gVkI/AAAAAAAAFMs/M_vC034faHg/20140414_152415-8x6.jpg?imgmax=800" title="Lodge at the top of Hehuan Mountain" rel="thumbnail"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMWe2vjFVTiD1KiSh8PpsC4WafOZ3wLxscyZqIJ3SisGTQd9j5mUeST4LhKHSOuVSBkulApDvh8i2QKvY7k0nQeMswTKCksfCn6qE4nhdO0aAKv0jwmO-grgvAXSyzAHgrJ7hIprvIbhK4/?imgmax=800" width="427" height="389" /></a></div> <div id="scid:8747F07C-CDE8-481f-B0DF-C6CFD074BF67:c3bb8717-005a-4521-8726-3720084ffeb1" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent" style="float: none; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-THKHAsDdYYU/U2wsIhOFpXI/AAAAAAAAFM8/pYCCcU_95-Q/20140414_152509-8x6.jpg?imgmax=800" title="Made it!" rel="thumbnail"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmtCLLM8H22XaRTBn4HIkNK4vTXhQKRCoMz-ht6qjF-FC0dWIA0-hpbjGz04hMDfOz1qe4qjepLwMjxurzgMkfJvfnT8qbojB8s7jMfA_Wy2VH82h_P5NXl3SeKnp-SynYXAHFwHOLSJQa/?imgmax=800" width="432" height="352" /></a></div> <div id="scid:8747F07C-CDE8-481f-B0DF-C6CFD074BF67:5ed4bd60-3390-45cd-bcb4-00e745303263" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent" style="float: none; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-WGWo8Dx-sIY/U2wsJ6kBszI/AAAAAAAAFNM/6zjnFD2Xyus/20140414_150945-8x6.jpg?imgmax=800" title="Brrr, it was chilly up there!" rel="thumbnail"><img border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-OFG37iQg42I/U2wsK5JS-pI/AAAAAAAAFNU/JWqmwDWKoJU/20140414_1509454.png?imgmax=800" width="433" height="385" /></a></div> <div id="scid:8747F07C-CDE8-481f-B0DF-C6CFD074BF67:27c70986-1105-423f-89d2-b6c49c63c519" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent" style="float: none; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-joCafq_MdbQ/U2wsLQ6KJbI/AAAAAAAAFNc/gjxK53wR3OE/20140414_152428-8x6.jpg?imgmax=800" title="What a view" rel="thumbnail"><img border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-BZDr_lR9InA/U2wsMdZBlpI/AAAAAAAAFNk/C-Q8-l05CQU/20140414_152428%25255B2%25255D.png?imgmax=800" width="476" height="350" /></a></div> <div id="scid:8747F07C-CDE8-481f-B0DF-C6CFD074BF67:7d334637-c2a4-4838-85f0-f776e1785b40" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent" style="float: none; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-19jSS--W63c/U2wsM_iuMcI/AAAAAAAAFNo/07mgrFaY12E/20140414_153107-8x6.jpg?imgmax=800" title="Hehuan (合歡) has two meanings: " Acacia tree" and "Meet and enjoy". This guy obviously likes the second meaning." rel="thumbnail"><img border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-XLwiJkMAUwk/U2wsNvyUgOI/AAAAAAAAFN0/3I0XTMSyK_k/20140414_15310717.png?imgmax=800" width="497" height="543" /></a></div> <p><strong><u><font size="3">How to get there:</font></u></strong></p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-1pneCdPdVDc/U2wsOWbU0BI/AAAAAAAAFN8/JNbVLTEEZKA/s1600-h/huhuanshan%252520map%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="huhuanshan map" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; display: block; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="huhuanshan map" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-AFUIcN3EPFg/U2wsPBS8PwI/AAAAAAAAFOE/F_ZZ-Khi9mo/huhuanshan%252520map_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="454" height="400" /></a></p> <blockquote> <p> <br clear="all" /><font size="3"><strong>1) Car/Scooter (bicycle?!):</strong> From Hualien City, take Highway 9 north towards Taroko. Drive through Taroko on Highway 8 and take in the beautiful scenery. Merge left onto Highway 14甲 and follow the signs to Hehuan Mountain (合歡山 Héhuānshān)</font></p> <p><font size="3"><strong>2) Public Transport: </strong>While there are public buses that run from the Hualien Train Station through a portion of Taroko Gorge, as far as I know there aren't any that go up to Hehuan Mountain. I did see some private tour buses up there, however.</font></p></blockquote> Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01563142738245530462noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3159873086866022417.post-7939656590268623682014-04-11T15:38:00.000+08:002014-05-08T15:54:30.046+08:00Hualien: Secluded Beach<p><font size="3"><strong><u>Where:</u> </strong></font><font size="3">Hualien County -- Highway 11 -- 17km marker [</font><a href="https://www.google.com.tw/maps/@23.832387,121.586427,3a,75y,123.29h,73.07t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1sIlUCAMUpXITF5m8VI1o-_Q!2e0?hl=en" target="_blank">Google Maps</a><font size="3"></font><font size="3">] </font></p> <p><font size="3"></font></p> <p><font size="3"><strong></strong></font></p> <p><font size="3"><strong> <img style="float: none; margin: 0px auto; display: block" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-e-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/t1.0-9/r270/10300245_10152466217421584_3194972840273084908_n.jpg" width="361" height="480" /> <br clear="all" /></strong></font></p> <div id="scid:5737277B-5D6D-4f48-ABFC-DD9C333F4C5D:8084bd09-6305-4fcb-8901-e0c3fb3c08b2" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent" style="float: none; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px"><div id="a0d431a4-6f28-4a13-9785-84f928336341" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; display: inline;"><div><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AytaC9T02uo&feature=youtube_gdata_player" target="_new"><img src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-XrSwMyA27-o/U2s350dkVxI/AAAAAAAAFJc/oSGAPCYWdBA/video418827322aa0%25255B12%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-style: none" galleryimg="no" onload="var downlevelDiv = document.getElementById('a0d431a4-6f28-4a13-9785-84f928336341'); downlevelDiv.innerHTML = "<div><object width=\"448\" height=\"336\"><param name=\"movie\" value=\"http://www.youtube.com/v/AytaC9T02uo?hl=en&hd=1\"><\/param><embed src=\"http://www.youtube.com/v/AytaC9T02uo?hl=en&hd=1\" type=\"application/x-shockwave-flash\" width=\"448\" height=\"336\"><\/embed><\/object><\/div>";" alt=""></a></div></div></div> <p><font size="3"><strong><u>How to Get There:</u></strong></font></p> <blockquote> <p></a><font size="3"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/--wUhYEL-UlA/U2s0x5NwBXI/AAAAAAAAFI4/US8xkU8EZW8/s1600-h/Hwy%25252011%252520-%25252017KM%252520beach%252520access%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><img title="Hwy 11 - 17KM beach access" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; display: block; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="Hwy 11 - 17KM beach access" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-Gi2QhpUCgh0/U2s0ytJKodI/AAAAAAAAFJA/BzOFzhIbdvQ/Hwy%25252011%252520-%25252017KM%252520beach%252520access_thumb%25255B4%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="404" height="193" /></a>On <strong>Highway 11,</strong> near the <strong>17km</strong> marker you'll see an open-air pavilion on the west side of the highway. To the left is a little path(scooter/bike/walking) that leads to the beach. </font></p> </blockquote> <p><strong><font size="3"><u>Public Transport:</u> </font></strong></p> <ol> <li><font size="3"><strong>Hualien Bus: </strong>1127, 1140, 1145. Departs from Hualien Train Station. Exit at 橄仔樹 (Gǎnzǐ Shù)</font> stop[<a href="https://www.google.com.tw/maps/@23.831332,121.586167,3a,75y,217.37h,80.38t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1slIIw5BdHK-0p8J-T2wQC0w!2e0?hl=en" target="_blank">Google Maps</a>]. Walk back N along Highway 11 for 100m/2 minutes. </li> <li><strong>Diing Dong Bus: </strong>8119. <font size="3">Departs from Hualien Train Station. <font size="3">Exit at 橄仔樹 (Gǎnzǐ Shù)</font> stop [<a href="https://www.google.com.tw/maps/@23.831332,121.586167,3a,75y,217.37h,80.38t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1slIIw5BdHK-0p8J-T2wQC0w!2e0?hl=en" target="_blank">Google Maps</a>]. Walk back N along Highway 11 for 100m/2 minutes. </font></li> </ol> <p><em>Disclaimer: Information is accurate at the time of writing, but is subject to change. I know that can be frustrating, but please don't get mad at me!</em></p> Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01563142738245530462noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3159873086866022417.post-20957402979470634872014-04-11T13:08:00.000+08:002014-05-08T14:06:17.175+08:00Hualien: Abandoned Military Buildings<p><font size="3"><strong><u>Where:</u> </strong></font><font size="3">Hualien County -- Highway 11 -- 6.5km marker [</font><a href="https://www.google.com.tw/maps/@23.925628,121.605541,3a,75y,36.02h,82.36t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1s-W_LiCPYv7B40cPHOgfc5Q!2e0?hl=en" target="_blank"><font size="3">Google Maps</font></a><font size="3">] </font></p> <p><font size="3"></font></p> <p><font size="3"><strong></strong></font></p> <p><font size="3"><strong><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-by8Cx5KNHNs/U2sepPC5_RI/AAAAAAAAFGY/4mvZPFWxWp0/s1600-h/03%252520hwy%25252011%252520-%2525206.5KM%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><img title="Click to see full size" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; float: left; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px 10px 0px 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="03 hwy 11 - 6.5KM" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-TRnJEmJsQ70/U2sep-XQa0I/AAAAAAAAFGc/MMwsKQcsGkM/03%252520hwy%25252011%252520-%2525206.5KM_thumb%25255B4%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="404" align="left" height="304" /></a></strong></font></p> <font size="3"><strong> <p> <br clear="all" /><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-ecNKsqtFm6w/U2sercL49lI/AAAAAAAAFGo/BX8qqeKOGgE/s1600-h/02%252520hwy%25252011%252520-%2525206.5KM%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="Click to see full size" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; float: right; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px 10px 0px 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="02 hwy 11 - 6.5KM" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-Vj5NkYgqG8Y/U2ser6Q7ocI/AAAAAAAAFGw/4o3R6dpPCwE/02%252520hwy%25252011%252520-%2525206.5KM_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="404" align="right" height="304" /></a> </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMOOPCXXp7fN2OCrbPshWx-C9siT1CjUrPCxfBo0wEr-vZOjwPo68lSayrw6T24vqgVqhd9jA4zTzD-684IzOTu-utgUmLGDNsDasg8y2FdqPua8UY9CS7DaZNloxO0dh1_M8i1WQeUTQa/s1600-h/04%252520hwy%25252011%252520-%2525206.5KM%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="Click to see full size" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; float: left; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px 10px 0px 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="04 hwy 11 - 6.5KM" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-AAN7atMyXVA/U2setkoZEdI/AAAAAAAAFHA/Le1Zg3CJ7YA/04%252520hwy%25252011%252520-%2525206.5KM_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="404" align="left" height="304" /></a></p> <p> <br clear="all" /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfjW5Spv8e2nEwrnTocqTLMwN3vDXKFvlf8bqw8FjyKMMcCfLTRw7MFu87rNOEDxfcN7jLjSV-A5UAPXuGuEu5S0n6gBCevxmSXIaVzAUYMMaBO2ijmGvWJ1fsv8-8poV7GYimga9-wddM/s1600-h/05%252520hwy%25252011%252520-%2525206.5KM%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="Click to see full size" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; float: right; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px 10px 0px 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="05 hwy 11 - 6.5KM" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-44HruE_IF6o/U2sevYXpxGI/AAAAAAAAFHQ/ShIDTPMbBbE/05%252520hwy%25252011%252520-%2525206.5KM_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="404" align="right" height="304" /></a></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> <br clear="all" /><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-zrY7jaBCe2w/U2sewXwhVbI/AAAAAAAAFHY/WHG7aW1klaY/s1600-h/06%252520hwy%25252011%252520-%2525206.5KM%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="Click to see full size" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; float: left; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px 10px 0px 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="06 hwy 11 - 6.5KM" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-mg__lTdYewM/U2sexBeYTcI/AAAAAAAAFHg/QmbcZuoYz1I/06%252520hwy%25252011%252520-%2525206.5KM_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="404" align="left" height="256" /></a> <br clear="all" /><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-ur67QXjidqc/U2sexiRLfwI/AAAAAAAAFHo/oQUT5Q5MsEQ/s1600-h/07%252520hwy%25252011%252520-%2525206.5KM%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="Click to see full size" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; float: right; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px 10px 0px 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="07 hwy 11 - 6.5KM" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-WRzrJZqISVA/U2seyVVApxI/AAAAAAAAFHw/G8AaC4Xwu5A/07%252520hwy%25252011%252520-%2525206.5KM_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="304" align="right" height="404" /></a> <br clear="all" /><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-D19jNlC7ceI/U2sezA82STI/AAAAAAAAFH4/ZghG4LtDjqg/s1600-h/08%252520hwy%25252011%252520-%2525206.5KM%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="Click to see full size" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; float: left; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px 10px 0px 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="08 hwy 11 - 6.5KM" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-o9w8plSIwEk/U2sez5e7HMI/AAAAAAAAFIA/3tZ-d0srzvU/08%252520hwy%25252011%252520-%2525206.5KM_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="404" align="left" height="344" /></a> <br clear="all" /></p> <p><u></u></p> <p><u>How to Get There:</u></p> </strong></font> <blockquote> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-S8eoHCGCSvM/U2se0v6t_NI/AAAAAAAAFII/zpNEP0X2_6Q/s1600-h/01%252520hwy%25252011%252520-%2525206.5KM%25255B49%25255D.jpg"><font size="3"><img title="Click to see full size" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; display: block; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="01 hwy 11 - 6.5KM.jpg" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-wvvpIB0utQg/U2se1hfJ53I/AAAAAAAAFIQ/CGjwcwIwDOQ/01%252520hwy%25252011%252520-%2525206.5KM_thumb%25255B47%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="454" height="190" /></font></a><font size="3">On <strong>Highway 11,</strong> near the <strong>6.5km</strong> marker you'll see two parallel roads on the west side of the highway. Take the road to the left (scooter/bike/walking) to go up to the abandoned military buildings. (The road to the right leads down to some coastal B&Bs).</font></p> </blockquote> <p><strong><font size="3"><u>Public Transport:</u> </font></strong></p> <ol> <li><font size="3"><strong>Hualien Bus: </strong>1127, 1128, 1140, 1145. Departs from Hualien Train Station. Exit at 花蓮溪橋 (Huālián xī qiáo)</font> [<a href="https://www.google.com.tw/maps/@23.922641,121.599906,3a,75y,113.69h,75.59t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1s0ehnBXqTw6Ru5r9dHo96Cw!2e0?hl=en" target="_blank">Google Maps</a>]. Walk NE along Highway 11 for 700m/10 minutes. </li> <li><strong>Diing Dong Bus: </strong>8119. <font size="3">Departs from Hualien Train Station. Exit at 花蓮溪橋 (Huālián xī qiáo)</font> [<a href="https://www.google.com.tw/maps/@23.922641,121.599906,3a,75y,113.69h,75.59t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1s0ehnBXqTw6Ru5r9dHo96Cw!2e0?hl=en" target="_blank">Google Maps</a>]. Walk NE along Highway 11 for 700m/10 minutes. </li> </ol> <p><em>Disclaimer: Information is accurate at the time of writing, but is subject to change. I know that can be frustrating, but please don't get mad at me!</em></p> Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01563142738245530462noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3159873086866022417.post-26901653504170844012014-04-09T08:41:00.001+08:002014-04-09T08:41:12.399+08:00Weight loss update<p> </p> <p> <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2" width="400" border="1"><tbody> <tr> <td valign="top" width="133"> </td> <td valign="top" width="133"> <p align="center"><strong>Weight</strong></p> </td> <td valign="top" width="133"> <p align="center"><strong>Waist</strong></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top" width="133"> <p align="center">March 07</p> </td> <td valign="top" width="133"> <p align="center">80 kg</p> </td> <td valign="top" width="133"> <p align="center">97 cm</p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top" width="133"> <p align="center">March 14</p> </td> <td valign="top" width="133"> <p align="center">78.4 kg</p> </td> <td valign="top" width="133"> <p align="center">96 cm</p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top" width="133"> <p align="center">March 21</p> </td> <td valign="top" width="133"> <p align="center">77.4 kg</p> </td> <td valign="top" width="133"> <p align="center">96 cm</p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top" width="133"> <p align="center">April 02</p> </td> <td valign="top" width="133"> <p align="center">74.6 kg</p> </td> <td valign="top" width="133"> <p align="center">93.5 cm</p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top" width="133"> <p align="center">April 09</p> </td> <td valign="top" width="133"> <p align="center">72.3 kg</p> </td> <td valign="top" width="133"> <p align="center">92 cm</p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top" width="133"> <p align="center">Net Difference</p> </td> <td valign="top" width="133"> <p align="center"><font color="#ff0000">-7.7 kg</font></p> </td> <td valign="top" width="133"> <p align="center"><font color="#ff0000">-5 cm</font></p> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> </p> <p>While the results are impressive, the method is not. The majority of the weight loss and waist reduction is due to being sick for the past two weeks. </p> Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01563142738245530462noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3159873086866022417.post-89389412508994590812014-04-08T09:01:00.001+08:002014-04-08T09:01:40.701+08:00Health update<p><font size="3">My last couple of weeks have been rough.</font></p> <p><font size="3">On Friday, March 28th I had two couchsurfers from New Caledonia staying with me, Thierry and Eugenie. They, Dylan, and I went to dinner at a vegetarian buffet. We all ate pretty much the same things, except that I also had plain white rice and they didn't.</font></p> <p><font size="3">Around midnight I woke up with pain in the pit of my stomach. I went to the bathroom, where I spent the majority of the next six hours vomiting and having diarrhea. Something was in my body that needed to get out.</font></p> <p><font size="3">The bathroom is right off the living room where Thierry and Eugenie were sleeping, so this was quite an uncomfortable situation. However, I was so sick and weak from all that vomiting that I couldn't care much. I probably got one hour of restless sleep that night.</font></p> <p><font size="3">The next morning Thierry asked if I needed to go to the hospital. I told him if I vomited again, then yes I would go. However, after around 6am I no longer threw up; however, I still had the diarrhea.</font></p> <p><font size="3">Dylan took the couchsurfers out to entertain them while I rested at home. I managed to get a little sleep, but I kept waking up because of the constant diarrhea. And man, did my throat burn from all that stomach acid coming up. </font></p> <p><font size="3">Dylan and the surfers came back in the late afternoon. I thought that I was improving. After eating some toast, however, I started vomiting again so I decided I needed to go to the hospital since I was very weak and suspected that I was getting dehydrated. The surfers, who had rented a car, took Dylan and I to the hospital because Dylan had drunk some alcohol during their outing and didn't want to risk driving.</font></p> <p><font size="3"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-IbHZsMkftpQ/U0NKblHFPTI/AAAAAAAAFFc/DXbuOtVwy08/s1600-h/hospital%2525203-29-14%25255B38%25255D.jpg"><img title="hospital 3-29-14" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; float: right; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px 10px 0px 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="hospital 3-29-14" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-mHJIEvEWfeg/U0NKckdhDtI/AAAAAAAAFFk/u24VOSQup48/hospital%2525203-29-14_thumb%25255B36%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="266" align="right" height="354" /></a>I was so weak and dizzy by this point that the hospital visit is kind of a blur. They hooked me up to an IV and administered medicine and fluids. At the beginning I really didn't care if I died or not (although I wasn't close to dying), but after a couple of hours my energy came back and I left the hospital with a three-day prescription.</font></p> <p><font size="3">On Sunday Thierry and Eugenie left, then later that day Catherine and Juno arrived, a couchsurfing couple from China. I was still weak and only eating toast, rice, and sports drinks, and I still had the diarrhea, but thankfully no more vomiting. I figured my body would adjust itself by the time I left for my mini vacation on Thursday.</font></p> <p><font size="3">Thursday I went to Taoyuan, where a group of friends and I would leave for Malaysia on Friday morning. I had much more energy, but still had watery diarrhea. My appetite had come back, and since I was now on vacation I didn't eat as lightly as I should have.</font></p> <p><font size="3">I enjoyed Malaysia very much, despite my stomach issues. However, Monday night after coming home, I again suffered from terrible stomach pain during the night, which finally eased enough to go to sleep after an hour of passing nothing but water through my bowels. I think not being careful with what I ate in Malaysia was the culprit.</font></p> <p><font size="3">So by today, Tuesday morning, I've had watery diarrhea for ten days, as well as mild to sharp pain in my mid-gut almost every time I eat. Later today Dylan will take me to the doctor, where I pray I'll find the means to start feeling normal again.</font></p> Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01563142738245530462noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3159873086866022417.post-68606855149828543252014-04-02T08:23:00.001+08:002014-04-02T08:25:51.917+08:00Weight loss update (food poisoning)<p> </p> <p> <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2" width="400" border="1"><tbody> <tr> <td valign="top" width="133"> </td> <td valign="top" width="133"> <p align="center"><strong>Weight</strong></p> </td> <td valign="top" width="133"> <p align="center"><strong>Waist</strong></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top" width="133"> <p align="center">March 07</p> </td> <td valign="top" width="133"> <p align="center">80 kg</p> </td> <td valign="top" width="133"> <p align="center">97 cm</p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top" width="133"> <p align="center">March 14</p> </td> <td valign="top" width="133"> <p align="center">78.4 kg</p> </td> <td valign="top" width="133"> <p align="center">96 cm</p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top" width="133"> <p align="center">March 21</p> </td> <td valign="top" width="133"> <p align="center">77.4 kg</p> </td> <td valign="top" width="133"> <p align="center">96 cm</p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top" width="133"> <p align="center">April 02</p> </td> <td valign="top" width="133"> <p align="center">74.6 kg</p> </td> <td valign="top" width="133"> <p align="center">93.5 cm</p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top" width="133"> <p align="center">Net Difference</p> </td> <td valign="top" width="133"> <p align="center"><font color="#ff0000">-5.4 kg</font></p> </td> <td valign="top" width="133"> <p align="center"><font color="#ff0000">-3.5 cm</font></p> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> </p> <p>Got violently ill late Friday night: Constant vomiting and diarrhea for 6 hours. Saturday morning and afternoon no vomiting but continued diarrhea. Saturday evening vomiting again, light-headed, so went to the Emergency Room and got treated for dehydration.</p> <p>It's now Wednesday morning and I still can eat only lightly; I've consumed only about 600 calories a day since Saturday. Hopefully my appetite will come back before my trip to Malaysia on Friday.</p> <p>I've managed to lose weight and inches, but I would never recommend the food poisoning method. Ugh!</p> Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01563142738245530462noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3159873086866022417.post-43497482684063978962014-03-21T19:43:00.001+08:002014-03-21T19:43:26.620+08:00Weight Loss & Exercise: Week 2<p> <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2" width="433" border="1"><tbody> <p> <tr> <td valign="top" width="91"> </td> <td width="85" align="center"><u>Mar 07</u></td> <td width="76" align="center"><u>Mar 14</u></td> <td width="77" align="center"><u>Mar 21</u></td> <td width="102" align="center"><u>Difference</u></td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top" width="91">Weight</td> <td width="84" align="center">80kg</td> <td width="75" align="center">78.4kg</td> <td width="77" align="center">77.4kg</td> <td width="102" align="center"><font color="#ff0000">-2.6</font></td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top" width="91">Waist</td> <td width="87" align="center">97cm</td> <td width="78" align="center">96cm</td> <td width="77" align="center">96cm</td> <td width="102" align="center"><font color="#ff0000">-1</font></td> </tr> </p> </tbody></table> </p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-xfd8pU6A_H0/Uywl1Rq03xI/AAAAAAAAFEw/rOKgX_2RaIg/s1600-h/net%252520calories%2525203-31%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="net calories 3-31" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: left; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px 10px 0px 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="net calories 3-31" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-E-0D-unILtc/Uywl12CRkoI/AAAAAAAAFE0/7tjaC8wYRXg/net%252520calories%2525203-31_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="504" align="left" height="332" /></a></p> <br clear="all" /><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-rESOZWSWoKk/Uywl2mkPp5I/AAAAAAAAFFA/L-4ongcmT3M/s1600-h/exercise%2525203-21%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="exercise 3-21" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: left; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px 10px 0px 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="exercise 3-21" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-qBGDhtG0ylk/Uywl3GPgCtI/AAAAAAAAFFE/CBBV_fY1Ino/exercise%2525203-21_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="504" align="left" height="337" /></a> Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01563142738245530462noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3159873086866022417.post-25194569667502168082014-03-14T09:20:00.001+08:002014-03-14T09:20:45.174+08:00Weight Loss & Exercise: Week 1 update<p> <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2" width="397" border="1"><tbody> <p> <tr> <td valign="top" width="111"> </td> <td width="108" align="center"><u>Mar 07</u></td> <td width="84" align="center"><u>Mar 14</u></td> <td width="92" align="center"><u>Difference</u></td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top" width="111">Weight</td> <td width="110" align="center">80kg</td> <td width="83" align="center">78.4kg</td> <td width="92" align="center"><font color="#ff0000">-1.6</font></td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top" width="111">Waist</td> <td width="111" align="center">97cm</td> <td width="83" align="center">96cm</td> <td width="92" align="center"><font color="#ff0000">-1</font></td> </tr> </p> </tbody></table> </p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-XAXKjfoHvKk/UyJZX-OYOwI/AAAAAAAAFEE/wAuE0hR3B14/s1600-h/calories%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="calories" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; float: left; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px 10px 0px 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="calories" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-RXQ9ILE1980/UyJZZJ2HeOI/AAAAAAAAFEM/ca3le5ucmTQ/calories_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="504" align="left" height="309" /></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-UqeVw8DaQ2E/UyJZZwzOVDI/AAAAAAAAFEU/Pl74VAT4s4Y/s1600-h/exercise%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="exercise" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; float: left; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px 10px 0px 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="exercise" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-Rw2nUcnD814/UyJZa9XQKSI/AAAAAAAAFEc/YCexGtoxrWg/exercise_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="504" align="left" height="319" /></a></p> Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01563142738245530462noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3159873086866022417.post-34625869150759268782014-03-12T10:23:00.000+08:002014-03-14T09:24:47.421+08:00Starting a diet & exercise (again!)<p><font size="3">In an effort to lose this fat I've accumulated around my midsection, last week I started to diet and exercise again. Actually, the diet is counting calories. <br /> <br />Current <strong>weight</strong> = 80kg   ➨  <strong>Goal = 75kg</strong> <br />Current <strong>waist</strong>   = 97cm  ➨  <strong>Goal = 87cm <br />Exercise </strong>                      ➨  <strong>Goal = 30 minutes 4X week</strong></font></p> <p><font size="3">I'm using <a href="http://myfitnesspal.com" target="_blank">MyFitnessPal.com</a> to track my calories, and my Nike+ sports band to track my speed walking.</font></p> Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01563142738245530462noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3159873086866022417.post-61391549525957225502014-02-18T22:20:00.001+08:002014-02-18T22:20:41.540+08:00Learning a language is like losing weight<p><font color="#000000" size="3">Good advice for myself (and perhaps others).</font></p> <p align="center"><font size="2">From the article <br /><font color="#000000"><em><a href="http://www.turning-japanese.info/2013/12/10-good-ja-language-habits.html" target="_blank">Ten good habits for learning Japanese for life in Japan</a> <br /></em>by Eido Inoue (Adrian D. Havill)</font></font></p> <font size="3"> <p align="left"> <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2" width="485" border="0"><tbody> <tr> <td valign="top" width="38"> </td> <td valign="top" width="445"> <p align="left"><font size="3">Repetition with both writing and listening works best. Don't just mentally read and answer the exercises in the textbook. Copy the questions longhand whole to a notebook along with the answers. <u>Verbally</u> say and hear everything you write.</font></p> <p><font size="3">There are tons of books with mnemonic systems. Maybe they work. Maybe they don't.<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-anFJrWHfYps/UwNsNR-YkOI/AAAAAAAAFB8/IeRh4iwPpoA/s1600-h/language%252520exercise%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img title="language exercise" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; float: right; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px 10px 0px 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="language exercise" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-9lQi1b1are8/UwNsN4J7SnI/AAAAAAAAFCE/RSIq1CUYs7Q/language%252520exercise_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" align="right" height="184" /></a> But repetition <strong>does </strong>work. Nobody likes to hear that. Just like nobody likes to hear that the foolproof way to lose weight is to eat less and exercise more. Because it's hard work.</font></p> <p><font size="3">You should approach learning a foreign language the same way you would exercise and diet. The exercise is the endless repetition of writing of the same words and phrases — longhand — over and over. It's the endless oral repetition of your written notes. It's the endless repetition of reading the same phrases over and over. The diet part? That's refraining from using too much of your native language in Japan <em>(—or whatever country you're in</em>).</font></p> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> </p> </font> Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01563142738245530462noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3159873086866022417.post-8128886709921189872014-02-16T21:48:00.001+08:002014-02-16T21:50:11.559+08:00What's for lunch? Jambalaya<p><font size="3">I'm a California boy and so I don't know much about Southern cooking. However, I decided to give it a shot. </font></p> <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2" width="503" border="0"><tbody> <tr> <td valign="bottom" width="501" align="center"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-JyPJkZ6gEsc/UwDBVm4vceI/AAAAAAAAE_U/vkDM6blyA-I/s1600-h/jambalaya%252520finished%252520001%25255B111%25255D.jpg"><img title="" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; display: block; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-0izMkUkdxW4/UwDBWroddyI/AAAAAAAAE_c/a5D0wUFsrLU/jambalaya%252520finished%252520001_thumb%25255B107%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="350" height="264" /></a></td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top" width="501" align="center"><em>Garnished with a celery top because I'm fancy that way</em></td> </tr> </tbody></table> <p><font size="3">I got this recipe online; if your treasured jambalaya is different than mine, so be it. </font></p> <p><font size="3">Nevertheless, this came out delicious—excuse me, this dish is <em>totally awesome dude!</em> (or <em>hella good</em> if you're from Northern California). Anyway, I bet my Dixie friends here in Taiwan would approve.</font></p> <p><font size="3"><strong>Let's cook!</strong> (excuse me again—<em>Let's cook y'all!</em>)</font></p> <p><font size="3">Cut <strong>2-3 chicken breasts</strong> and <strong>2-3 sausage links </strong>into pieces. Andouille sausage is recommended (in Taiwan? Hah!) I do have a connection with an American-run BBQ restaurant that makes their own <u>non-sweet</u> non-Taiwanese sausage.</font></p> <p><font size="3"><em>Click on the photos to enlarge.</em> </font></p> <p><font size="3"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-PD6hibp9kgA/UwDBX01zPuI/AAAAAAAAE_k/4hU1NQggkGk/s1600-h/jambalaya%252520002%25255B8%25255D.jpg"><img title="" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; float: left; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px 10px 0px 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-rYNbz77itaw/UwDBYvd7kfI/AAAAAAAAE_s/9F0QWV7l8HE/jambalaya%252520002_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" align="left" height="212" /></a>Sauté the sausage in some oil in a large pot. Remove. </font></p> <p><font size="3"> <br clear="all" /><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-x4CP2hGKSno/UwDBZqEMXZI/AAAAAAAAE_0/pdAd2KhlTRg/s1600-h/jambalaya%252520006%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img title="" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; float: left; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px 10px 0px 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-uJ6x-Ty7REQ/UwDBafSNRHI/AAAAAAAAE_8/L712amv2Dq0/jambalaya%252520006_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" align="left" height="184" /></a>Sauté the chicken in the same pot. Remove.</font></p> <font size="3"> <p> <br clear="all" /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1lxpdKF_wWEq4N5sEWgInSlV8S2eKv4mHP41w2Q1XjPF1L3of2IFz8WvxBmxu3x5FUAlCgvfpH_ouOGYIgBrESdzndXdm3jRRV5tX9vYmds19Knkrlk-miBqAxpXaYmQ4eZ0cAyy4660h/s1600-h/jambalaya%252520007%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img title="" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; float: left; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px 10px 0px 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-7V2guSy_yNQ/UwDBcIX6q3I/AAAAAAAAFAM/Vw82bD9tkh0/jambalaya%252520007_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" align="left" height="184" /></a>In the same pot, sauté <br /><strong>1 diced onion <br /></strong><strong>1 diced bell pepper <br /></strong><strong>2 stalks diced celery <br /></strong><strong>3-4 cloves minced garlic</strong>.</p> <p> <br clear="all" /><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-GKCTPfNk_oY/UwDBdTTUgXI/AAAAAAAAFAU/rS-81QLjP7s/s1600-h/jambalaya%252520010%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img title="" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; float: left; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px 10px 0px 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-HUh2iB2xjQU/UwDBeYaAEpI/AAAAAAAAFAY/z3Q_4w-xA-U/jambalaya%252520010_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" align="left" height="184" /></a>Stir in <strong>one big can of crushed tomatoes</strong>. <br clear="all" /></p> <list> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-M-gFSpZcpzk/UwDBfR1gUXI/AAAAAAAAFAk/Sqfl4YFCxHM/s1600-h/jambalaya%252520011%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><strong><img title="" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; float: left; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px 10px 0px 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-148785oGFcw/UwDBgW82P7I/AAAAAAAAFAs/s2jK8x2KLaA/jambalaya%252520011_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" align="left" height="184" /></strong></a>Add <br /><strong>1 Tsp salt <br />1/2 Tsp oregano <br />1/2 Tsp paprika <br />1/2 Tsp cayenne pepper</strong> <br /><strong>1/2 Tsp black pepper <br /></strong>(or, instead of the above, add 1 Tbsp of your favorite Cajun seasoning) <br /><strong>1/2 Tsp Italian seasoning</strong> (can omit if using canned Italian tomatoes) <br /><strong>1/2 Tsp red pepper flakes</strong> (I use the packets that come with pizza) <br /><strong>2 Tsp Worcestershire sauce</strong> </p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-_bCNtCtNaK0/UwDBhfGbl0I/AAAAAAAAFA0/V4bkDTfEkYw/s1600-h/jambalaya%252520014%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img title="" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; float: left; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px 10px 0px 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-ZM-JjAKHcew/UwDBiML4wlI/AAAAAAAAFA8/USJIhQ-teek/jambalaya%252520014_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" align="left" height="184" /></a>Add the cooked chicken and sausage. Cook for 10 minutes.</p> <br clear="all" /> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-GfRgsqTOZDM/UwDBjGaIxmI/AAAAAAAAFBE/q5I1CgW6dus/s1600-h/jambalaya%252520015%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img title="" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; float: left; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px 10px 0px 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-RHAUXtdzrLg/UwDBjxzSP3I/AAAAAAAAFBM/jacJhyaDZRk/jambalaya%252520015_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" align="left" height="184" /></a>Stir in <strong>2 1/2 cups chicken broth</strong> and <strong>1 1/4 cups uncooked rice</strong>.</p> <p>Bring to a boil, reduce heat, cover and simmer for 30 minutes. <br clear="all" /><u><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-MIRUnPb8gRU/UwDBlGfK3TI/AAAAAAAAFBU/9k5I1DDYB68/s1600-h/jambalaya%252520018%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img title="" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; float: left; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px 10px 0px 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic9wg3BKnReC9iKUfv30WegsdVeXsOZav2OAJYdc29CD7bU7u75w2lmiSu1M9RSjvcsliPlIZCJFjn5N9UYVbGGUWuZWTK9Fb5RMDfsA79rxhQygqONiIT8S8uKaSHgjRnaBEe47smYqU7/?imgmax=800" width="244" align="left" height="184" /></a> <br />Do not lift the lid during cooking</u> or you risk having undercooked rice. Resist the urge to peek!</p> <p> <br clear="all" /> <br /><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-iVNFxcecVac/UwDBnbTmpXI/AAAAAAAAFBk/EvedLZaotPA/s1600-h/jambalaya%252520finished%252520004%25255B107%25255D.jpg"><img title="" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; float: left; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px 10px 0px 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-grJuk2oRuBc/UwDBoKG_ywI/AAAAAAAAFBo/o8gOVpye9Ks/jambalaya%252520finished%252520004_thumb%25255B105%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="349" align="left" height="263" /></a>This came out plenty spicy for me, but if you want more heat you can add some <strong>Tabasco sauce</strong> to taste.</p> <p>Also, if you want <strong>shrimp</strong>, add it after the rice is done and cook for another 7 minutes or until the shrimp is done.</p> <p>By the way, this will serve 6 people easily.</p> </font> Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01563142738245530462noreply@blogger.com0